Watsonville Nonprofit Announces Expansion

GILROY, CA – A Watsonville-based nonprofit that works to bridge the digital divide in underserved Latinx communities plans to open shop in this South Bay City.

DigitalNEST Executive Director Jacob Martinez announced his group’s plan to move to the world’s Garlic capital in a YouTube video with Gilroy Mayor-elect Marie Blankley.

“We’re coming to Gilroy!” Martinez said. “We’re super excited to be coming to this exciting community.”

DigitalNEST helps youths develop technical skills and connections they’ll need to advance in a fiercely competitive environment.

“Can’t wait to see the enthusiasm and the inspiration and the empowerment that Digital Nest will bring to our youth,” Blankley said.

Since the program’s 2014 inception, around 74 percent of its 2,200 participants have developed essential workplace skills and more than a hundred have landed jobs, internships or school placements, its website says.

The average starting salary of Digital Nest alumni $45,760.

“We’re coming to help them build the skills, get connections and become the leaders of Gilroy in the future,” Martinez said.