The Etownian >> Features
Author chronicles selfless humanitarian’s volunterrism
Thursday October 22 2009
Melanie Snyder, Elizabethtown College alumna and author of “Grace Goes to Prison: An Inspiring Story of Hope and Humanity,” is truly living the College’s motto of “Educate for Service.”Snyder graduated from Etown with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and social work, and she later enrolled in the University of New York and earned her MBA in information systems.
With her MBA, Snyder worked with Fortune 500 companies for about 20 years. However, her life changed as a result of the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007. Snyder was contacted to teach conflict resolution classes to local troubled teenagers.
Although she held degrees in psychology and social work, she experienced difficulty teaching these classes and sought help. Jean Moyer, Snyder’s friend, recommended that they see Marie Hamilton, who spent nearly 30 years volunteering in the Pennsylvania State Prison System. Snyder’s experiences with Hamilton served as the basis for “Grace Goes to Prison.”
Snyder’s book documents the story of Marie Hamilton, a 37 year-old homemaker who began visiting a group of prison inmates in 1975 in hopes of looking for and affirming the good within them. In the 30 years that followed, Hamilton expanded that vision to educate, empower and support inmates to be successful when paroled.
“It was never Marie Hamilton’s intention to work with the prisoners,” Snyder said. “The prisoners felt that no one gave them kindness, and they felt abandoned, so it was Marie’s calling to give them kindness and serve them.”
Hamilton’s volunteer work has challenged conventional wisdom about how to deal with criminals. Initially, criminals were often treated as hopeless individuals who did not deserve any respect; however, Hamilton’s programs brought about sweeping reform in prison systems throughout Pennsylvania. Hamilton helped the prisoners feel motivated to better the society on the outside of their prison walls.
“Beginning in 1979, inmates ran charities, such as a run-a-thon, to fund organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and help prevent younger generations from making the same mistakes that they did,” Snyder said.
Today, these charities have gnerated over a quarter of a million dollars.
Although this does not seem like a very large amount, this is almost an impossible feat considering the average prison wage is 26 cents an hour.
Snyder felt that her life completed a full circle after studying psychology and social work in college, spending years in the business sector and moving back into her original studies after writing “Grace Goes to Prison.”
Hamilton and Snyder have exemplified our motto of “Educate for Service” in this inspirational book by serving those in need of attention and by changing the conventional wisdom of prison systems throughout the United States.
Snyder will be holding a book signing event at the High Library Thursday, Oct 22, at 7:00 p.m. Anyone and everyone who is looking for an inspirational story, or simply the advice of a fellow Etown alum, is encouraged to attend this event.
The Etownian >> Features