AHSC Grant Fuels Paid Internships for Santa Cruz Youth and Local Businesses
SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz Works, a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating a robust innovation ecosystem within Santa Cruz County, and Digital NEST, a nonprofit that empowers underserved California youth with skills to launch tech careers, are pleased to share progress on their partnership to provide valuable workforce development opportunities for young adults in Santa Cruz County via the AHSC 2025-26 Internship Opportunity Program. Funded by the City of Santa Cruz through the California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant, the collaboration supports paid internships for underserved youth and local companies, empowering local youth and strengthening the regional economy.
The AHSC grant, a key component of California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is designed to create healthier communities by connecting affordable housing with sustainable transportation and economic opportunities. By focusing on workforce development, this new program directly supports the grant’s mission, helping match local talent with local job opportunities and reduce the need for long commutes.
Through the program, Santa Cruz Works and Digital NEST have placed young people, with an emphasis on those from underserved communities, in six-month, paid internships with ten local businesses. Participating companies will receive up to $10,000 from the grant to compensate their interns. This funding removes a major barrier for businesses, particularly startups and small companies, who want to offer training and mentorship but may not have the means to do so.
Santa Cruz Works has recruited local companies who are in need of talent to support their business and Digital NEST provides intern recruiting, training, and case management support. Many candidates come from bizzNEST, Digital NEST’s youth-powered creative agency where interns gain paid, hands-on experience in areas like digital marketing, graphic design, and software development by working on real client projects.
“This grant is a game-changer for our community,” said Bonnie Lipscomb, Director of Economic Development and Housing for the City of Santa Cruz. “It levels the playing field for residents who have faced systemic barriers to employment, while also eliminating cost concerns for businesses that want to mentor and grow local talent. It's a smart, sustainable investment in the future of our economy.”
"The earn-and-learn model is a proven solution to the challenge of youth employment," said Cathy Wright, VP of Partnerships & Innovation at Digital NEST. "By providing paid work experience, mentorship, and industry credentials right in their own communities, this program is preparing young people for wealth-building careers and ensuring the future of our workforce in Santa Cruz County is both local and equitable."
“We are excited to see the talent and support that these skilled interns will bring to not only these ten local companies, but their incredible impact to the community as a whole for years to come,” stated Malina Long, Business Development and Programs Manager at Santa Cruz Works. “We look forward to hopefully expanding this opportunity to more young people and local businesses.”
The companies and individuals selected for the first round of the internship opportunity program are:
Climatize, a startup helping individuals easily invest in climate projects throughout the U.S., has hired Julian Guerrero as a Video Production Intern.
Nurbli, a multilingual communication startup, has hired Yuliana Morales-Galvan as their Software and Development Intern.
X Academy, 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in 2014 to provide STEAM enrichment programs to kids in the Santa Cruz County region, has hired Fernanda Jordan as Marketing Intern.
Mission Hill Creamery, an artisan creator of locally-roasted coffee, nationally-recognized handcrafted ice cream, and an all-day bakery menu, has hired Julian Cabadas as their Marketing Intern.
Siena House, an organization dedicated to providing a healthy, stable, and supportive environment to mothers and their babies, has hired Elsa Tamayo as a Marketing Intern.
Go Ask Alice, a local herbal apothecary & gift store in Downtown Santa Cruz has hired Melanie Kate as a Social Media Marketer.
Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery has hired Edgar Robledo-Salgado as a Video/Digital Storytelling Intern.
Innovation Within, an AI-powered platform transforming raw ideas into validated success stories, has hired Jared Esquivel as a UX Contractor.
Clean Oceans International, an organization dedicated to reducing oceanic plastic pollution through research, innovation, and direct action has hired Emily Ramirez as a Social Media and Outreach Intern.
Senior Legal Services, an organization dedicated to providing free legal services to defend the rights of seniors and other vulnerable populations has hired Katherine Sarna for the role of Communications Intern.
The partnership between Santa Cruz Works and Digital NEST creates a powerful model for community-driven workforce development that fosters a more inclusive tech ecosystem, strengthens local companies, and prepares the next generation for successful careers right here in Santa Cruz County.
About Santa Cruz Works
Santa Cruz Works is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a robust innovation ecosystem in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz Works provides resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities that drive economic growth and well-being and connects entrepreneurs, businesses, and educational institutions to the wider community.
About Digital NEST
Digital NEST (Nurturing Entrepreneurial Skills with Technology) advances economic justice by providing youth from underserved communities with the resources, skills, and work experience to pursue wealth-building careers. At innovative workforce development centers across California, young people ages 14-24 have a safe and vibrant space to explore their passions, develop technical skills, and build a work portfolio through our paid internship program. Our no-cost model creates ripples of impact that have brought prosperity to thousands of NEST-ers, their families, and entire communities. Join the journey at www.digitalNEST.org.
Media Contact:
Monica Villanueva-Espinoza
Communications Manager
Digital NEST
media@digitalNEST.org
