Scholarships

In 2007, her unwavering commitment led to the inauguration of a state-of-the-art dance studio, providing an inspiring space for her team and students.

Ms. DeVore’s leadership is complemented by a creative team of dancers, drummers, and administrative staff, all dedicated to fostering a nurturing and disciplined environment for artistic growth.

Beyond her work at the dance center, Ms. DeVore serves as the director of the nonprofit organization Rise Up: Empowerment Through the Arts, which strives to educate, inspire, and empower young people through the arts.

Her influence extends to her students’ achievements, with several opening their own studios and others receiving prestigious nominations, such as Camille A. Brown’s 2024 Grammy nomination for the musical Hell’s Kitchen and Edgar Gardino’s win as associate choreographer for “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”

Ms. DeVore’s enduring legacy is marked by her passion for dance, commitment to education, and the profound impact she has had on the cultural enrichment of her community.

Marjorie Fleming Simon, the daughter of the of the late Catherine Fleming and Jesse Watts, was born and raised in Port Washington, N.Y. Marjorie was baptized at an early age and has served faithfully at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Port Washington for over 50 years. Presently she serves as a Trustee and Missionary. She has been part of the Eastern Baptist Association for many of those years, participating in the spelling bee as a child. Her joy of singing paved the way for her to be a part of several singing groups.

She attended St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School and Port Washington Public Schools. She participated in many activities including sports, yearbook committee, future business and nurses’ clubs. After graduation, she enrolled in Bellevue School of Nursing and received her nursing diploma. She furthered her studies in nursing and public health at Hunter College and Molloy College. In later years, she attended New Your Theological Seminary where she received a certificate in biblical studies.

Marjorie was employed by Bellevue Hospital as Head Nurse for five years. She left Bellevue and joined Nassau County Department of Health, her dream, and remained in public health for 33 years. As the Clinic Manage at the New Cassel Westbury Health Center, she offered evening workshops on issues affecting the community such as hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, women’s health and teen pregnancy. Since retiring she has continued to follow her dream, doing mission work in Africa, and Jamaica, WI. Her service in public health continued as a past board member of Good Beginnings for Babies, former board member of New Cassel/Westbury Community Health Center, member of UNCCRC, Global Associates for Health Development and participating in local health fairs.

She is a proud life member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club (NANBPWC), Bellevue Alumnae Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Chi Eta Phi Sorority, African Atlantic Genealogical Society (AAGS) and Common Grounds (NYSDOH-AIDS Institute Faith Communities Project).

Her commitment to service has opened the door outstanding opportunities for which she has received many awards such as:

• Town of North Hempstead Women Roll of Honor
• Sisters in the Struggle-Salute to Unsung Sheroes
• Chi Eta Phi Sorority-Kappa Eta Chapter Soror of the year
• Town of Hempstead-Certificate of Recognition
• EBA -Women’s Auxiliary
• EBA-Ministers Wives
• Nassau County Caucus of Black Democrats
• Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Marjorie’s greatest blessings and achievement is the raising of her four children to love and honor God. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). She is the loving mother of Yvette, Oslo (deceased), Ana and Cyril. As the grandmother of Jabari, Shomari, Aniya, Jada, Arianna, the pride and joy of motherhood continues to live on. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!