To support students in managing their academic work and personal commitments, CSUN established the Valera NEST. NEST, which stands for Nurturing Environment for Students to Thrive, is a new, free resource center that provides assistance with basic needs and helps students stay focused on their education and career.
Located inside the University Student Union (USU), the Valera NEST brings several support services together in one space.
The space had its soft opening on Jan. 20, the first day of the spring semester. Facility and Guest Services Coordinator Magdalena Sanchez, who has been with the USU for two years and stepped into her current role less than four months ago, shared that the space has everything students need.
“It consolidated basic needs resources that were already available on campus in one central location,” Sanchez said. “The Valera NEST is a location, right? But the services are what bring it to life, and it’s the students that really make it a home.”
Sanchez said she joined the project later in its development and was excited for what the space was to become.
“I am really passionate about taking a holistic approach to student success, not just academic success,” she said. “Being able to have a space where the whole student is thought of is what motivated me.”
CSUN celebrated the official opening of the Valera NEST with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 27, attended by President Erika D. Beck, Assembly Member Pilar Schiavo, donors Milt and Debbie Valera and other university leaders.
One of the biggest services offered at the NEST is the CSUN Food Pantry, which provides students with free groceries. Students can pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as refrigerated and frozen foods. In addition, they offer hygiene products, including shampoo, soap and toothpaste.
Another popular service offered by the NEST is free hot and cold lockers for students to store their food.
This support makes a great difference for students who work part-time or numerous jobs to cover necessities, but still struggle to cover all their expenses. Others may help support family members. Free groceries can help them save money for rent, textbooks or other bills.
The NEST also includes Ila’s Kitchen, an open lounge area where students can heat their food and eat, and Matty’s Closet, a Career Center program that provides free business-style clothes to students.
“It’s like a boutique experience,” Sanchez said. She explained that students can have a stylist accompany them through their shopping experience and receive interview tips from staff.
Besides food and clothing, the NEST offers basic needs advising. Staff members guide students in applying for programs like CalFresh, finding emergency financial help or getting support with housing. Students can also ask questions and get connected to other campus resources if needed.
“When the project was created, it was for students by students,” Sanchez said. “One of the words that came across the whole assessment cycle was that students wanted to feel like they thrived.”
That sense of comfort and community is already resonating with students like Jaskaran Cheema and Joseph Iacobucci, who said the NEST has become a part of their daily routines.
“I’m a constant visitor. I come multiple times a week,” Iacobucci said. “I just enjoy the environment, and I feel like it’s a refresher from just going to the library.”
Cheema shared a similar experience, saying he visits the NEST every time he is on campus.
“It’s a really convenient place,” Cheema said. “There’s good tabling inside and outside, and there’s the ability to make food here. It’s also just a nice place to relax on this side of campus.”
Both students said that the finished building exceeded their expectations.
“I thought it was going to be a more bland, kind of boring building,” Iacobucci said. “But I love what they did with the inside – the greenery, the plants, the colors. It pops and grabs your attention, and that’s what made me want to come back more often.”
As the NEST continues its first semester of operation, staff members are observing how students naturally use the space before implementing future programming.
“We want to prioritize students utilizing the space in the way that makes the most sense for them,” Sanchez said.
The Valera NEST’s hours of operation vary based on services and can be found on its website.
