Santa Cruz Youth Gain Career Opportunities Through AHSC-Funded Internship Program
A partnership between Santa Cruz Works and Digital NEST provides paid internships for underserved youth through AHSC grant funding, creating workforce development opportunities while strengthening the local economy.
The collaboration between Santa Cruz Works and Digital NEST is providing valuable workforce development opportunities for young adults through the AHSC 2025–26 Internship Opportunity Program. Funded by the City of Santa Cruz through the California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grant, this initiative supports paid internships for underserved youth and local businesses, simultaneously strengthening career pathways and the regional economy.
The AHSC grant represents California's effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting healthier communities through the integration of affordable housing with sustainable transportation and equitable economic opportunity. This internship program advances that mission by connecting local talent to local employment opportunities, reducing commute distances, and fostering a more resilient economic foundation for the community.
Ten local businesses have welcomed interns for six-month, paid positions through the program. Each participating company receives up to $10,000 in grant funding to compensate their interns, effectively lowering financial barriers for small businesses and startups eager to mentor emerging talent. The program structure involves Santa Cruz Works recruiting participating companies while Digital NEST handles intern recruiting, training, and case management.
Many program participants come from bizzNEST, Digital NEST's youth-powered creative agency where young people gain paid experience in digital marketing, software development, and design through real client projects. The participating companies and their interns include Climatize with Julian Guerrero as Video Production Intern, Nurbli with Yuliana Morales-Galvan as Software & Development Intern, and X Academy with Fernanda Jordan as Marketing Intern. Other participants include Mission Hill Creamery, Siena House, Go Ask Alice, Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery, Innovation Within, Clean Oceans International, and Senior Legal Services.
City officials emphasize the program's community impact. Bonnie Lipscomb, Director of Economic Development and Housing for the City of Santa Cruz, noted that the grant levels the playing field for residents facing systemic employment barriers while eliminating cost concerns for businesses wanting to mentor local talent. Cathy Wright, VP of Partnerships & Innovation at Digital NEST, highlighted the effectiveness of the earn-and-learn model in addressing youth employment challenges by providing paid experience, mentorship, and credentials within local communities.
The partnership between Santa Cruz Works and Digital NEST establishes a model for community-driven workforce development that strengthens local companies, diversifies the talent pipeline, and enables the next generation to build meaningful, sustainable careers within Santa Cruz County. Malina Long, Business Development and Programs Manager at Santa Cruz Works, expressed enthusiasm about the talent and energy interns are bringing to local companies, predicting their impact will benefit the community for years to come.