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

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.

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

Well over one hundred people participated in the first annual Parkview Experience: Back to School 2016, co-sponsored by Neighborhood Outreach Connection (NOC) and the Atlantic Housing Foundation. Rev. Antwan Milledge and his wife Sabrina, the United Community Group, and other local sponsors contributed food and donations to support the event.

Twenty- five students received free haircuts, compliments of Rev. Milledge and Unique Cuts of Beaufort.

Also attending were Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling; Dr. Narendra Sharma, NOC Founder and Chair; NOC Board Members Will Achurch and Bill Evans, and John Leadem, NOC Program Manager for Parkview; Chief Matthew Clancy of the Beaufort Police Department, as well as several other members of the police and fire departments; Beaufort Elementary School Principal Melissa Holland and Assistant Principal Vicki Goude; and Yanet Claxton and Tashya Norman of Atlantic Housing.

In addition to grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, the children and their families were treated to a variety of desserts and beverages. Guest speaker Caleb Brown from Committed to Excellence encouraged students to do well in school and he praised NOC for its efforts and success in Beaufort. The young people (and even some adults) enjoyed jumping in the bounce castle and running in the sack race competition. Each student left with a generous supply of back-to-school supplies donated by Atlantic Housing, The Greenery, and Unique Cuts.

Despite a few moments of rain, nothing dampened the enthusiasm of all in attendance.