nocadmin – Page 8

NOC’s Cordillo Center is at Risk

February 20, 2017 By nocadmin

NOC’s Cordillo Program Center faces possible closure and needs your help.

Neighborhood Outreach Connection is an organization that works to empower low income communities through education, healthcare, and workforce development. We work within the neighborhoods themselves to re-envision the futures of individuals, families, and communities at large through after school programs, health clinics, English and literacy classes, and a host of other services.

Cordillo Courts is one of the only low-income neighborhoods located on the south end of Hilton Head Island, but it is the poorest neighborhood in all of Hilton Head. It serves as home for many of the low-wage workers that our Island’s economy thrives on.

NOC Cordillo was established in 2014 after being invited by Cordillo’s Board of Directors in 2013. This year, 2017, the current Board of Directors is working to remove the same program they fought to implement. NOC serves upwards of 60 children and their families who will experience irreparable harm if this program is altered. NOC also provides health screenings to more 30 individuals per visit.

NOC is in danger and needs your help. Let your voice be heard by clicking on the link below and signing the electronic petition.

by Allessandra Reuben, Hilton Head Prep School

https://www.change.org/p/be-the-change-for-our-children-save-noc

This petition will be delivered to:

Hilton Head Island Mayor David Bennett
Cordillo Courts Board of Directors President James Ackerman

Beaufort Holiday Celebrations

December 18, 2016 By nocadmin

Great holiday celebrations took place last week at the NOC Learning Centers in Beaufort! NOC students at Parkview and Marsh Pointe Apartments were thrilled with gifts provided by Santa’s Helpers (participants in Island Ladies Night Out, organized by Island News – Thanks, Betty Davis! — and Modern Jewelers). The children loved the gift bags, which were thoughtfully prepared by Nan Krueger and the Youth Group at First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort. A family from Hilton Head Island decided that rather than giving gifts to one another this year, they would give each NOC student in Beaufort a Walmart gift card! Thanks to Upper Crust for a discount on delicious pizzas purchased with a generous donation from Atlantic Housing (property managers of Parkview). And finally, thank you to Beaufort Elementary Principal Melissa Holland, excellent teachers, volunteers, NOC Program Manager John Leadem, and NOC Board member Will Achurch!

John Leadem, Program Manager for Marsh Pointe and Parkview, commented: “The holiday parties at both the Parkview and Marsh Pointe Learning Centers were festive and highly successful. The dedicated NOC teachers, who do a wonderful job day in and day out with the kids, participated along with their families. In addition, parents, friends of NOC, teachers from Beaufort Elementary School, and several NOC Board members attended the parties.”

Principal Melissa Holland remarked: “It was such a nice event. The children were so appreciative and respectful. I am so impressed by the generous gifts and donations the children received at these events. Marsh Pointe is really growing! It was nice to see some parents at that site as well. Thanks again for what you are doing with our students. They love the NOC and we do too!”

NOC’s Post-Matthew Storm Recovery Project

November 22, 2016 By nocadmin

NOC has established a Special Storm Recovery Project to assist families severely impacted by Hurricane Matthew. At present, NOC is helping 13 families (52 people).

Because many of these families lost their homes, NOC is assisting them with 4-8 week temporary accommodations located in safe environments in Hilton Head Island. NOC’s Special Project has also provided cash grants for families to buy food and clothing, and to pay rent in temporary accommodations. Later, when these families are able to return to their homes, NOC will provide further assistance to help them purchase basic furniture.

Several innovative features have made this initiative very effective. First, NOC responded quickly to the immediate needs of these families for lodging. NOC met with each family to determine their needs and then developed solutions that allowed parents to maintain their jobs and keep children in their regular schools. NOC developed a simple framework to assess families’ needs and was able to respond quickly. This framework greatly reduced bureaucracy and transaction costs, and allowed NOC to monitor the status and well-being of families at the ground level.

In addition, NOC partnered with teams from the Mormon Church to help clear storm debris at the Oaks complex. NOC also partnered with local schools to conduct a special session for NOC children, talking to them about their experience with the recent hurricane. This session was important since many of these children went through a traumatic experience dealing with the hurricane. The session was highly successful

To date, NOC has committed more than $15,000 to this project. While this project is not within the bounds of its normal operations, NOC has demonstrated the flexibility needed to respond to an immediate and urgent need. Projects such as this can be replicated to respond to sudden urgent needs because of its rapid response time, low transaction costs, and client focus. NOC listened to the families and developed plans with them, which helped minimize emotional stress. We, as well as the families who have been helped, appreciate generous donations from NOC’S Board of Directors, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, and the Heritage Foundation.

Sharma Addresses Local Group

November 17, 2016 By nocadmin

Dr. Narendra Sharma, NOC Board Chair, recently gave a talk to the Unitarian Church of the Lowcountryon Overcoming poverty and income-inequality: A global and local imperative. Dr. Sharma noted that we live in a constant state of flux where our lives and the world we live in are continuously changing. This phenomenon alters the social order and brings uncertainty. It unleashes forces that impact the quality of our lives and our aspirations. There are gainers and losers due to these changes. The gainers benefit while losers are often angry, frustrated, and pessimistic. The losers want change because they want their fair share. They see hope in change irrespective of its consequences.

This phenomenon has spread with increasing intensity throughout the world over the past 50 years. Key forces are globalization, technological advancement, the emergence of capital markets and flow of capital, trade, and movement of people. These forces have combined to change modes of production and use of resources, economies, consumption patterns, investments, and communication. They have also given rise to significant income inequality throughout the world.

In addition, these forces of change have increased interdependency among countries and contributed to enormous growth in wealth and the rise of a global economy. This trend has benefited a few while leaving many behind, creating tension, apathy, and a sense of helplessness. This is the reality and paradox that we face today.

We face the challenge of addressing poverty and income inequality at the local, national, and global level within the realm of capitalism, free market, and democracy.

Dr. Sharma outlined specific recommendations for Beaufort County.

To view Dr. Sharma’s presentation, click here: sharma-presentation

“Why NOC Makes Sense for Beaufort County”

September 14, 2016 By nocadmin

NOC chairman Narendra P. Sharma, in a special opinion article in the Island Packet, outlines the many ways in which NOC brings support and hope to underserved communities in Beaufort County.

Read the full editorial: http://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/op-ed/article101345127.html

Also read: http://www.islandpacket.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article101660717.html