BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Senior Minister/Spiritual Leader: Rev. Twana Malone

President: Marie Amey-Taylor, PhD

Vice President: Susan Saunders, RScP

Secretary: Judith Crosby

Treasurer:

Marie Amey-Taylor, PhD

“If I can help somebody, as I travel along;
If I can help somebody, with a word or song;
If I can help somebody, from doing wrong;
No, my living shall not be in vain.

No, my living shall not be in vain;
No, my living shall not be in vain;
If I can help somebody, as I’m singing the song;
You know, my living shall not be in vain.”

I recall the moment that literally changed my spiritual life, which, as it turns out, changed me. The song, “If I Can Help Somebody” was the family mantra that drove my early religious life as my parents lived its message as strong and integral members of their church.

As I learned more about myself and the differences in living a religious vs a spiritual life, I longed for a community, a spiritual community, that was as open, affirming, and as diverse as the life I had created. As a lifelong learner, I was driven to find a physical place and a heart space where I could deepen my faith, where I could learn and grow by practicing ways to love myself and others, and where I could feel God’s presence through the actions of inspirational and affirming spiritual leaders, teachers, practitioners, and fellow learners.

I had been searching for a community of souls who celebrate love and life out loud and in silence, in community and in solitude, through words and actions, and with their hearts, heads and their feet, because I had to find a spiritual place that would let me dance… yes, dance!

So, on that life-altering day, I was led to The Center of Peace by my best friend. When I was invited to stand and be acknowledged as a first-time visitor, I witnessed an entire congregation literally hold out their hands in a gesture of welcome, affirmation, and connection. I knew I had found my spiritual home.

After taking several courses on Science of Mind and settling into a place of deep gratitude for The Center of Peace, I evoked the family mantra and stepped into the TCP leadership role of President of the Board of Trustees. This is my way of giving back to a place that sustains me on so many levels.

My time on the Board of Trustees continues to be an incredible opportunity to support the success of my spiritual home as we implement plans for continued fiscal sustainability and opportunities to “create peace throughout the world.” And, as luck would have it, at The Center of Peace, I get to answer the call to dance whenever Spirit speaks to my soul and the rhythm moves me to celebrate it all.

Susan Saunders, RScP

She started attending the Center of Peace in 2017 and began taking classes soon thereafter. She recently became a Licensed Practitioner in 2023. Susan participates in serving The Center of Peace community in many different ways. She is a member of the Reach Out and Touch and Fellowship Care Circles.

Susan is committed to spreading the teaching of Science of Mind to everyone whose path she crosses. Her goal is to give hope to everyone she comes in contact with, and to assist individuals with making knowing the truth of who they really and truly are.

Judith Crosby

Serving as a member on The Center of Peace Board of Directors is an honor, as well as a way to share my gifts and skills with a spiritual community that welcomed me so warmly when I relocated to Philadelphia. I felt at home from the first Sunday that I visited The Center of Peace.

Finding this teaching was a spiritual awakening that was liberating in a way I never experienced before in traditional church settings.  I was first introduced to Unity Church in 1974 and then to Religious Science in 1992.  I served on the Boards of Directors for Unity Church in Kansas City, MO, and the Inspirational Living Center of Orange County, CA, and for many years attended the Redondo Beach Church of Religious Science (now the Redondo Beach Center for Spiritual Living). The journey was truly life-changing as I learned more about this teaching through classes and workshops, including Science of Mind 1 & 2.

My background includes being a Navy veteran as well as a career civil servant for 32 years.  My federal career began in Washington DC and took me cross-country to California, where I retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as Manager of the Civil Rights Division for the Western-Pacific Region that covered California, Arizona, Hawaii, and the Mariana Islands.

I am originally from the Pittsburgh area and was employed by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission prior to joining the federal government.

In addition to being on the Center Board of Directors, I served 15 years on my homeowner’s Board of Directors.  I believe strongly in community service and have had a wide range of volunteer positions from working with children and domestic violence survivors. Here, at The Center of Peace, I am a member of the Social Justice Care Circle.

My skill set includes conflict resolution training, mediation, organizational leadership, and strategic planning.

I am also an artist, oil on canvas, and have sold paintings worldwide.

Tricia Graddy, RScP

Know me through my challenges and what I’ve learned from them. Knowing that I have much more to learn.
I found New Thought during an unsettled time in my life when I wasn’t loving myself, and so of course I was not loving others. The book “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle lead me through a back door into the Unity Church, and that lead me to the Science of Mind (SOM) teaching, after a few years of floating on my own.

My challenges were always concerning relationships. Relating to and expressing myself with friends, romantic partners, coworkers, family… you get my point. All relationships and social situations were a challenge, and I experienced anxiety and self abuse as I ran from the uncomfortable situations.

The SOM teaching tells me that I am a unique expression of Spirit. I am Perfection in this place called Patricia. This helps me to be easier with myself and others. We are all unique expressions of Spirit and we can all let our personality, including our feelings and emotions, resonate at our own unique frequencies knowing that all is well.

As I continue to know myself and open myself to others my life is becoming richer and more love filled.
Through SOM classes I was introduced to the book “Care of The Soul” by Thomas Moore. This book says to me that it is OK to feel whatever I feel, and to emote whatever needs emoting, and then come back to my spiritual center where Love, Peace & Harmony live within me. I can visit any state of mind, and know that I need to come back to the One Mind to know Wholeness.

Spirit in this teaching, in my spiritual family, family, and friends loves me back to center. Spirit in all forms tells me that I am OK and perfectly me at all times.
To add interests that I have in other areas, I studied chemistry and worked in that field most of my career. I really like physics and look forward to more study of the science in SOM. I am now retired and volunteering my time and energy with The Center of Peace, CSL. My Practitioner studies were completed in 2023 and I am grateful to be serving in this role.

Tricia Graddy | Director of Operations

Tricia is currently serving as the Board Secretary and has joined as the Director of Operations in July 2025.

Ayenda Lambert | Marketing Specialist

Ayenda has been a member of The Center of Peace since 2013. She joined as the Marketing Specialist in December 2021 and served on the Board of Trustees from 2021-2024.