Digital Nest Plans To Open New Location

WATSONVILLE, CA – Digital NEST announced it will launch a new “NEST” with the Stockton community next year. This expansion into the Central Valley kicks off bold plans to scale to a total of nine communities in Northern California by the end of 2026. 

“We’re making history… I’ve been excited from the first time I set foot in Stockton seeing the brilliance that exists there; this is a special moment for us,” announced founder and CEO Jacob Martinez during the nonprofit’s 4th annual career development “NEST Flight” conference for youth.

Beginning with the first NEST in Watsonville in 2014, Digital NEST and its community of local partners have strived to connect youth to the skills, resources, and professional networks that build their confidence and create new possibilities for their futures. Now the NEST and its supporters are eager to share the knowledge gained from scaling to new communities over the past five years. 

Digital NEST has centers in downtown Watsonville and Salinas and is currently looking for a permanent location in Gilroy. The fourth Stockton NEST will be both its first location outside of the Monterey Bay region and the first in the San Joaquin Valley. 

“We’re fortunate to have garnered direct support over the years from our many incredible individual donors in the communities we serve,” said Chief Growth Officer Corinne Kappeler. Most recently, the organization received its second-largest gift to date from longtime donors Lane and Leticia Bess through their Bess Family Foundation to support its growth efforts with a contribution of $600,000 over 3 years. “It’s our hope and plan to secure not only the foundational funding to launch, but also to sustain NESTs in new communities,” said Kappeler. 

About Digital Nest

The Digital NEST CONNECTS youth to a skill-building community that TRANSFORMS them into professionals who can CREATE successful careers, innovative solutions, and prosperous communities. Modeled after successful technology companies such as Google and Facebook, the Digital NEST Technology Workforce Development Center is a hip, cool, and colorful spot that will inspire its youth and young adult members to be creative, innovative, and self-sufficient. The Digital NEST strengthens our community by preparing young people to be technology leaders in Santa Cruz County and beyond.