About Us
Walking into one of our Digital NESTs is like walking onto a Google campus only even better because our spaces are infused with:
COMMUNITY, CULTURE & LOVE
We bring growth and stability to the rural, agricultural-based cities of Watsonville and Salinas.
Our communities were historically locked out of the economic opportunity and digital innovation brought by the tech to other California communities. We knew that our kids deserve the very best to nurture their talents, wisdom, and passions so we built our own thriving center for technology and empowerment that prepares our young people to prosper in the workforce. Digital NEST spins a web of connection and opportunity across the entire community.
Mission
Vision
About our founder
Jacob Martinez
Founder and Executive Director
Digital NEST
“When you create an environment where youth feel respected, like they belong, and have a supportive community, they can envision a different future for themselves.”
In 2014, Jacob founded Digital NEST—a technology workforce development hub providing youth in rural communities with high-demand technology skills, mentoring and hands-on experience so they can secure well-paying jobs. Prior, he spent nearly 10 years running a successful program funded by the National Science Foundation, encouraging underrepresented Latina girls to study computer science. He is a 2020 recipient of The James Irvine Foundation “Leadership Award” and a 2018 Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation “Entrepreneur Fellow.” Jacob plans to open a Digital NEST in every overlooked community in California and to prepare youth to transform them into thriving economic centers.
A scalable vision
Digital NEST is working to create sustainable and scalable technology centers in vulnerable communities all over California and beyond, creating economic equality for the residents of low income and rural communities, teaching young people the technical skills needed to become competitive and self-sufficient in the digital future.
Digital NEST has sparked a nationwide dialogue among educators, policy-makers and the media as a model for conquering the digital divide in underserved communities throughout the U.S. We welcome your inquiries and ideas on growing and sharing the Digital NEST idea with other communities.
A scalable vision
Digital NEST is working to create sustainable and scalable technology centers in vulnerable communities all over California and beyond, creating economic equality for the residents of low income and rural communities, teaching young people the technical skills needed to become competitive and self-sufficient in the digital future.
Digital NEST has sparked a nationwide dialogue among educators, policy-makers and the media as a model for conquering the digital divide in underserved communities throughout the U.S. We welcome your inquiries and ideas on growing and sharing the Digital NEST idea with other communities.
OUR VALUES
At Digital NEST, we believe in a core set of values that allow us to nurture the full potential in the youth we serve, in our community, and in ourselves. People who work at the Digital NEST must:
- We Plant the Seeds of Change
- We Value Inclusion and Co-Creation
- We Value Compassion and Acting with Love
- We Value Multicultural Competency
- We Value Teaching, Learning, and Growing
OUR VALUES
At Digital NEST, we believe in a core set of values that allow us to nurture the full potential in the youth we serve, in our community, and in ourselves. People who work at the Digital NEST must:
- We Plant the Seeds of Change
- We Value Inclusion and Co-Creation
- We Value Compassion and Acting with Love
- We Value Multicultural Competency
- We Value Teaching, Learning, and Growing