'Safe, seen and cherished': Nest Homeboy children are cared for

The space is divided into zones. There are areas for dramatic play, block building, drawing, climbing and a soft, inviting space for exploring books, including many donated by the families of UCLA's Megan E. Daly Infant Development Program.

What you won't see: screens.

"In this generation we live in now, it's lost in social media," Gonzalez said. "I see a lot of children watching TV, tablets. There should be a caregiver in front of them, loving them. Early education is fundamental. It will build them up for the rest of their life."

Gonzalez, who just graduated, is part of a team of UCLA students in the applied developmental psychology (ADP) minor who provided over 2,000 hours of service to 10 community organizations this spring. Nest Homeboy is one of them.

The childcare service is a pilot program and partnership between Homeboy, the venerable gang intervention and rehabilitation program started by Father Greg Boyle in 1988, the UCLA ADP minor's Community-Engaged Early Childhood Initiative and Nest Global, an LA-based nonprofit provider of high-quality, trauma-informed early education for children experiencing displacement, poverty and instability worldwide.

"Our community needs high-quality childcare," said Donna Harati, vice president of wellness and community care at Homeboy Industries. "We wanted partners we could trust, who are committed to the same values. Like Father Greg always says, everyone who walks through our doors should feel safe, seen and cherished."

The lives of the children at Nest Homeboy are just beginning. Their parents' lives are gaining altitude as they recover from long-term substance use disorders, incarceration and gang affiliation.

"Our population is trying to reintegrate into society," said Noemi Fonseca, a facilitator at Homeboy who focuses on victims of domestic violence. "We have people who've been homeless, who've battled addiction. Their children have been in the foster care system. It's so important for them to know their kids are safe while they're working on themselves."

Fonseca has been part of this year's pilot childcare program, making sure parents and caregivers get to know one another to build trust.

"To be able to drop the kids off and walk away with peace of mind helps them focus on recovery and rehabilitation," she said.

Fonseca, Gonzalez and Harati were part of a high-energy commencement ceremony on the UCLA campus that brought the university and Homeboy together at the peak of the June graduation season.

The vast majority of ADP grads go on to work in early childhood-related fields, and a third work with children in under-resourced communities.

It's a real-world demonstration of UCLA's continuing connection to community.

"What began as a pilot partnership has revealed the potential for a larger model of community-engaged developmental practice," said Elisheva Gross, who launched the ADP Community-Engaged Early Childhood Initiative at UCLA in 2021. "We are exploring opportunities to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and serve as a model for how universities and community organizations can work together to support young children and families."