A one-year pilot that proved the model works at home.

In 2023, Nest Global piloted its first domestic Nest — a free early childhood program for newcomer migrant families in Los Angeles. 

California has become a primary destination for families arriving from Central America, South America, and beyond. Families navigating the asylum system find themselves in a city with few pathways into early childhood education — and children who have already survived significant displacement are left without the one resource most known to support their recovery: a consistent, safe, nurturing place to learn.

Nest LA filled that gap. Children ages 0–6 came to a program that honored what they had been through, treated their curiosity as a resource, and gave them — often for the first time since leaving home — a place designed entirely for them. A community-led breakfast and lunch program ensured that no child arrived hungry. UCLA Applied Developmental Psychology interns brought rigorous, research-backed support to the classroom. Community events, field trips, and cultural celebrations gave families a sense of belonging in a city that can be overwhelming to navigate.

The pilot was formally completed in October 2024. Its lessons — about what families in domestic resettlement need, and about the particular hunger for healing-centered programming among recently arrived communities — directly informed the development of future domestic Nest programs.