Faces – Page 7

An Hour a Day: Reaching For the American Dream

September 9, 2016 By nocadmin

Carol Lineman spent several hours at NOC’s Cordillo Learning Center, observing the program in action, focusing especially on the internet-based Compass Learning software. She saw children completing homework under the supervision of teachers from our local schools. She spoke to the children about their challenges and achievements. She saw that NOC’s learning centers provide a safe and attractive environment for children who live in poverty and have only limited academic support at home.

Based on this experience, Carol then wrote a short story that captures a typical day at an NOC learning center. Use the link below to read Carol’s story.

Carol’s story: offer-one-hour-to-make-a-difference-in-a-childs-life

Message from the Chair

July 5, 2016 By nocadmin

Dear Friends:

I hope you, your family, and your friends enjoyed a happy 4^th of July.

July 4^th is a special day for us all … for Americans as well as for others who respect our core values of freedom, liberty, and social justice, and who envy our powerful economy, innovation, and exceptionalism. It is indeed a day of celebration and goodwill. But it is also a day for reflection.

There is much to be grateful for as a citizen of this great nation. But we must not ignore the fact that there is not a level playing field for everyone to achieve economic and social progress.

Today, there is income inequality in our country, as well as throughout the world. Many individuals, families, communities, and countries are unable to realize the rewards of economic growth and globalization. On a global scale, more than 2 billion people live in poverty and the gulf between the haves and have-nots is widening. More than 45 million people right here in our country live in poverty. Like people throughout the world, these people want their fair share of wealth and growing economies. The poor want freedom from poverty in order to have dignity. They want opportunities and pathways to economic and social progress to get ahead in life.

This brings us to NOC. Our mission is to fight poverty by empowering the poor through NOC’s outreach programs in poverty stricken neighborhoods. NOC is making a difference by helping the poor but we can do more. Your proactive involvement in implementing NOC’s mission and programs is critical. I hope you will take some time to reflect on this imperative and define your goals to help NOC implement its mission more effectively.

NOC needs your commitment and support to move forward. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of the many people who are struggling to make ends meet. We can help children living in poverty to excel academically and be successful later in life. We can build stronger communities by helping them move out of poverty. I am sure that was the dream of the people who toiled to give birth to this great country. That dream is still alive today.

Best wishes and warm regards,

Narendra P. Sharma, PhD

Founder and Chair, Neighborhood Outreach Connection (NOC)

Phone: 703-309-6939 (c)

Words from the Chair

May 13, 2016 By nocadmin

I visited NOC’s two Learning Centers in downtown Beaufort — Parkview and Marsh Pointe. I saw hope and optimism in the faces of the children who were there. After almost a year, these students are showing significant results in academic performance, attendance, behavior, and parent involvement. While I have been optimistic from the outset, these children are achieving excellent results faster than our expectations. Clearly, the NOC model is working and is highly relevant to creating opportunities for children and families who live in neighborhoods with limited resources and services. The hard work of the NOC team, together with the teachers, volunteers, and friends of NOC, is generating positive payoffs.

Please continue to support NOC’s efforts and visit our Learning Centers.

Dr. Narendra P. Sharma
Founder & Chair, NOC

NOC Impacting Young Lives

September 5, 2015 By nocadmin

How does NOC impact young people’s lives? Jhen wrote the following brief letter after attending the after school program at the Simmons Cay NOC Learning Center in Bluffton.

I am writing about my experience at NOC. First I have to say NOC is a great after school activity. I am saying this because I was failing three of my classes last year. Then my Mom put me in NOC for the last 3 months of the school year. Then I had straight As. Now I am in 7th grade and I am in all the advanced classes thanks to NOC. —Jhen, 7th Grader

Jhen is pictured above with NOC Program Manager Shirley Kinlaw-Falcon.

Congratulations, Jhen!

NOC Children Enjoy Chess

August 11, 2015 By nocadmin

NOC has partnered with First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head Island to introduce an eight week pilot chess class this summer at its Cordillo Program Center in Hilton Head. This pilot program is designed to introduce to children in low income neighborhoods an interesting hobby that has social and educational benefits. Many of us have realized the educational benefits of playing chess by actually learning the game or after seeing the movie “Searching for Bobby Fisher.” The program is coordinated by Kaci Hollingsworth (NOC’s Cordillo Program Manager) and Jerry Hallman from First Presbyterian Church. Jerry is teaching the students at Cordillo Courts the basics of chess — learning all of the pieces and basic moves. The students thoroughly enjoy working with Jerry, and are excited to learn the ins and outs of the game. NOC intends to replicate this program in its other Program Centers in HHI, Bluffton, and downtown Beaufort.

“Chess helps you to concentrate, improve your logic. It teaches you to play by the rules and take responsibility for your actions, how to problem solve an uncertain environment.” Garry Kasparov