True to both of their jazz leanings, the two wrote improvisational endings both lyrical and musically to all of the songs, allowing the singer to give more of herself to these versions. Though Marilyn is humbled to be singing so many cherished works of other songwriters, she has a few songs in her own catalog that have enjoyed an extraordinary cultural and inspirational impact beyond the confines of airplay success. Her recording of Brenda Russell's “The Last Day,” from 'Avenues of Love,' explored someone's last moments in life and was used by the American Red Cross. In April 2000 she joined Garth Brooks, Melissa Etheridge, k.d. Lang and the Pet Shop Boys at the Equality Rocks concert in Washington D.C., where she debuted her anthem for tolerance, “No Room For Hate”. Co-written with Russell Ferrante and Jimmy Haslip, the song inspired the No Room For Hate Campaign, which led to Marilyn's co-founding of The Prana Foundation, a non-profit organization whose first campaign was to provide funding for anti-bias education for children. In early 2004, the Foundation partnered with the Anti-Defamation League in Los Angeles to help launch a program the Miller Early Childhood Initiative, which provides anti-bias training for teachers, caregivers and parents of pre-school children ages 3-5. The California native's awareness of the unique possibilities of blending music with social consciousness began with her teenage experience of seeing many legends onstage including the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin and Etta James. Marilyn performed with working bands that provided her experience with jazz and R&B, forming friendships with musicians and singers that to this day remain a growing exchange.