Messages From the Chair

NOC Can Help in Jasper County!

August 2, 2019 By NOC

On July 25, 2019, Dr. Narendra Sharma, Founder & Chair of the Neighborhood Outreach Connection (NOC), spoke to the Town Council of Hardeeville, Jasper, County; SC. Dr. Sharma talked about NOC’s approach to community development with its strong presence in an underserved neighborhood where poverty is widespread. He added that the NOC model has a strong track record in generating results at lower cost. More importantly, he said that the NOC model is a cost effective way to promote community development in undeserved neighborhoods. He concluded that NOC can replicate its model in Jasper County where an NOC Learning Center would be managed, operated, and funded by local people with know-how, blue prints, and technical support from NOC’s central offices until such time as the program is self-sustaining with local support and resources.

View Dr. Sharma’s presentation here: Jasper County Town Council presentation, July 25, 2019

NOC Calls for Reduction in Achievement Gap

April 19, 2019 By NOC

Neighborhood Outreach Connection (NOC) calls for a Reduction in the Student Achievement Gap in the Beaufort County School District

NOC Founder and Chair, Dr. Narendra Sharma, addressed the Beaufort County Board of Education on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 Also attending the meeting were NOC Executive Director, Cynthia Jackson-Jenkins, NOC Field Director, Corbin Stripling, and NOC Director of Development and Marketing, Daniel McKeown. Dr. Sharma emphasized NOC’s business model and how NOC is addressing the needs of Beaufort County children and families through education, health, and workforce development programs. He enumerated NOC’s accomplishments over the past 10 years and stated NOC’s goals and priorities over the next 10 years. Dr. Sharma’s presentation highlighted the following:

NOC successfully serves 650 high-risk students in six Neighborhood Learning Centers by going directly into underserved neighborhoods
NOC invests in BCSD teachers and works with them to provide tutoring and homework assistance in each Neighborhood Learning Center.
NOC brings technology and BCSD’s curriculum into the neighborhood in a cost-effective way.
NOC plans to strategically expand and open 4 new learning centers in Beaufort County, targeting 1,000 students
BCSD can be an active partner in NOC’s expansion, including recognition of teachers working in NOC’s programs.

Dr. Sharma concluded that we must address the achievement gap issue with a sense of urgency since 35% to 45% of minority students (African American and Hispanic) are not at grade level in either reading, math, or language arts.

View Dr. Sharma’s presentation: bcsd prestation, april 2019, final

NOC Celebrates MLK Day

January 23, 2019 By NOC

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

On January 21, NOC celebrated the life of Dr Martin Luther King, reflecting on his legacy. It was a great honor and privilege for members of the NOC family to participate in Hilton Head Island’s MLK march. We respect and admire a great leader and champion of human rights, freedom, and social justice. Dr. King understood the power of love, compassion, and tolerance to create a just and fair society. He saw poverty and lack of opportunity as negative forces undermining human dignity, independence, and self-reliance.

Dr. King’s work is not complete yet. We must tackle the economic and social challenges that we continue to face today … to achieve the ‘Dream’ that Dr. King spoke about more than five decades ago. Many people still live in poverty and lack opportunities to get ahead in life. The gulf between the haves and have-nots is widening locally and worldwide. There are conflicts and suffering in every corner of the world, including in own country, the United States.

NOC’s vision, mission, and outreach programs are in line with Dr. King’s teachings and actions, as we help those in need and those who are vulnerable. We continue this work, inspired by Dr. King and other great leaders throughout the world.

Naren Sharma, Founder & Chair, NOC

NOC Chairman Interviewed on WHHI

October 2, 2018 By NOC

Dr. Narendra Sharma, NOC founder and chair, was interviewed during the WHHI evening news program on September 17, 2018. In addition to discussing NOC’s progress, Dr. Sharma also commented on some of the key challenges facing Hilton Head as the town approaches upcoming elections.

Click on the link below to see the interview in its entirety:

HILTON HEAD NEWS | Dr. Narendra Sharma: HHI Challenges & Burning Issues | WHHITV

Reflections from the Chair

May 28, 2018 By nocadmin

NOC Founder and Chairman, Dr. Narendra P. Sharma, shares thoughts about his journey from growing up in the Fiji Islands to a career in economic development worldwide, to retirement and a second career fighting poverty in underserved communities in Beaufort County, South Carolina.

Follow this link to read his story: Sharma – My Story

NOC Can Help in Jasper County!

NOC Calls for Reduction in Achievement Gap

NOC Celebrates MLK Day

NOC Chairman Interviewed on WHHI

Reflections from the Chair

The NOC Story

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