Exploring Life & Business with Nani Berman of Samaritan Center Simi Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nani Berman.

Nani, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Los Angeles in a close-knit, big family of very hard workers. My childhood was not always easy, and I faced some difficult experiences growing up, but my family taught me some of the values that have shaped who I am today—especially empathy, compassion, and the importance of caring for other people.

One of the things I remember most is that every year during the holidays, my mom and I would choose a family to support. Sometimes we were struggling ourselves, but she always made sure we found a way to give back. Looking back, I realize those experiences taught me what community really means. They showed me that you don’t have to have a lot to make a difference in someone else’s life.

When I was 17, I started volunteering with the unhoused community in Skid Row. I would walk the streets handing out food, water, hygiene supplies, and other basic necessities. I also volunteered with Beauty2theStreetz before it became the large organization it is today. I spent a lot of time volunteering alongside its founder, Shirley Raines, my very close Auntie Jackie, and other volunteers. We would caravan into Skid Row and set up portable showers, sometimes physically pumping and holding the water spouts so people could shower.

But the work went beyond just providing basic necessities. After some of the women would shower, I would do their makeup and even apply lash extensions. At the time, it felt like such a simple thing to do, but I quickly learned that something that might seem small to me could have a huge impact on someone else. Seeing someone’s confidence change after having their hair or makeup done, or simply being able to look in the mirror and feel beautiful again, really stayed with me.

One especially memorable experience with Beauty2theStreetz was when cosmetics owner Laura Geller came out for an event. We did a makeup photoshoot with women from Skid Row, and it was such a beautiful experience to see these women being celebrated and treated with the attention and care they deserved. Laura also made a donation to Beauty2theStreetz and donated makeup products, which allowed us to continue creating those experiences for the women we served.

What always stood out to me about that work was that it wasn’t just about providing someone with a meal or a shower. It was about making people feel seen, beautiful, and human—to give back even a small piece of the dignity and humanity that every person deserves.

For a long time, I didn’t realize that the passion I had for helping people could actually become part of my career. That changed in October 2023, when I learned about The Samaritan Center in Simi Valley and joined the organization as the Marketing & Administrative Coordinator.

Working at The Samaritan Center has been so much more meaningful than I ever could have imagined. I get to connect with people experiencing homelessness, help connect them with resources, assist them with getting registered with our services, and help them meet with our onsite caseworkers. We provide access to showers and laundry, serve hot meals throughout the week, and operate a food pantry twice a week.

One of the biggest things this experience has taught me is that you truly never know someone’s story. Every person has a completely different past, different circumstances, and a different journey that brought them to where they are. I’ve learned that it’s not my job to judge or make assumptions about someone’s life. My job is to meet people where they are, treat them with dignity, and help connect them to the resources they need.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been so many moments where I’ve wanted to do more for someone, but I didn’t know where to start or what I could realistically do to change their situation. You meet someone who needs housing, mental health resources, medical care, employment, food, or simply someone to listen to them, and sometimes you wish you could fix everything for them right then and there.

I’ve had to learn that I can’t solve every problem, and I can’t always change someone’s circumstances overnight. What I can do is help with the next step.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Samaritan Center Simi Valley?
The Samaritan Center is a nonprofit organization in Simi Valley whose mission is to help Simi Valley residents overcome hunger and homelessness. What I think is most important for people to know is that we are so much more than a food pantry or a place to receive basic necessities. We really try to meet people where they are and help them take the next step toward stability and independence.

We provide a variety of essential services, including hot meals throughout the week, a food pantry twice a week, showers and laundry facilities, hygiene supplies, clothing, and other basic necessities. We also have caseworkers onsite who work directly with individuals experiencing homelessness and help connect them with the resources they need.

Our caseworkers can assist with housing support, health resources and referrals, obtaining critical documents, employment opportunities, and resume assistance. Having those services available under one roof is incredibly important because someone may come to us initially for a hot meal or a shower, but that interaction can become the first step toward getting connected to much more long-term support.

What really sets The Samaritan Center apart to me is the way we approach the people we serve. Our values are centered around restoring lives, respecting every person’s dignity, inspiring hope, showing compassion, empowering independence, building partnerships, and creating impact. Those aren’t just words on a wall—they are values that I see reflected in the way our team interacts with people every day.

We don’t look at someone and define them by their circumstances. We understand that homelessness can happen for so many different reasons, and every person’s story is different. Our goal is to meet people where they are without judgment, provide them with the resources they need, and help them move forward.

I also think the recognition we’ve received from our community speaks to the impact The Samaritan Center has been able to make. We have been named Best Nonprofit Organization by The Acorn Simi Valley & Moorpark for three consecutive years, and in 2024, we were honored as the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit of the Year. Those recognitions are incredibly meaningful because they come from the community we serve and reflect the work of our entire team, volunteers, donors, and community partners. I’m incredibly proud to be part of an organization that has earned that level of trust and support from the community.

As the Marketing & Administrative Coordinator, I’m also proud to be part of telling that story. There is so much meaningful work happening at The Samaritan Center, and I feel very fortunate to help share it with our community, connect people to our services, and help build awareness around the resources available to those experiencing hunger and homelessness.

Ultimately, I think the most important thing I want people to know is that The Samaritan Center isn’t just about giving someone something they need today. It’s about creating a pathway toward a better tomorrow.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I would say empathy is the quality that has been most important to my success. I’ve always been someone who genuinely cares about how other people are feeling and what they may be going through, even when I don’t know their full story.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.samaritancentersimivalley.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samcentersv/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamaritanCenter/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nani-/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@samaritancenter-simivalley

Image Credits
Nani Berman – myself took Samaritan Center images