American writer and management consultant, Margaret J. Wheatley says, “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
On Sunday, August 19, 2018 at Jarvis Creek Park on Hilton Head Island, the incredible Flor Mora, Neighborhood Liaison for the Neighborhood Outreach Connection’s (NOC) Oaks Learning Center, harnessed the great power of a community.
Flor coordinated a fundraiser for NOC that will support the students in learning centers in Beaufort County. She encouraged members of the communities served by NOC to come out and provide fresh Hispanic food, games, and entertainment. Additionally, prizes were organized by Consuelo Saldivar. The event started at 10:00 a.m. and lasted until 6:00 p.m. During this time, families of students and community members volunteered and donated their time to cooking food, providing music for Zumba lessons, and community outreach.
The aroma of authentic cuisine and the sound of fun filled the air at Jarvis Creek Park. Everywhere you looked, community members were gathered around eating, chatting, playing games, or dancing to the music. In a lot of ways, the event was reminiscent of a family reunion with all sorts of people showing up to show their love for one another and the community.
The children were wrapped up in the music, provided by Tony Campos, dancing and singing for the audience. When not providing their own form of entertainment, the children could be seen having their faces painted, getting temporary tattoos, and just enjoying an event that was focused on their family and friends.
The event was a huge success. Flor coordinated everything by reaching out through social media, her personal connections, and connections with NOC. In all, the event raised over $4,000, which will go towards programs for the children and families served by NOC. It was also great that native islanders, NOC staff and board members, even tourists from Ohio and Utah, were in attendance at Jarvis Creek Park for the event.
At a leadership meeting, hosted at NOC headquarters, Flor was recognized by NOC Founder and Chair, Dr. Narendra Sharma, for her outstanding work and continued service to NOC. Flor is appreciative of the success of the Jarvis Creek Park event; however, she is even more excited about future events in the coming year.