By working together, Pi515 and Microsoft TechSpark aim to bridge this gap and ensure that more students are equipped with the necessary skills for success for the future of work. Through collaborative efforts, Pi515 seeks to create educational opportunities, provide mentorship, and foster a stronger connection between industry and students
Pi515 works to prepare our students to meet the growing demand for digital literacy in the labor force.
Pi515's "Day of Innovation" taught six important lessons: passion fuels entrepreneurship, leaving the echo chamber is necessary, great mentorship is key, diversity drives innovation, youth notice problems and the future is bright.
The U.S. labor force is facing a crisis that’s been brewing for decades and has become readily apparent thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of Americans are without jobs, yet millions of job postings are unfilled.
The Greater Des Moines Partnership has collected stories from people within the startup community to share during Global Entrepeneurship Week Nov. 8-12, 2021.
The 6-week FG Cohort transformed my fundraising storytelling capabilities. It helped me refine my pitch deck and pitch. Also, establish more confidence in my abilities to raise money for my company.
The success of Bread by Chelsa B is not only a culmination of Smith's previous work experience in online sales or the influence of her social circle of entrepreneurs, she said:
We close the gaps in terms of accessibility of technology, by starting at home," said Nancy Mwirotsi, executive director of Pi515.
StartupCity Des Moines formed in 2011 as an incubator and coworking space and closed in Sept. 2014. It was a public-private joint effort focused on growing the Des Moines startup community and is viewed by many as the inflection point that led to the modern startup ecosystem. This donation is the final disbursement of funds invested in StartupCity Des Moines.
In 2010, Nancy Mwirotsi founded Pi515 to serve refugee youth throughout Greater Des Moines (DSM) by teaching them technology skills, coding and critical thinking to help them become innovative and empowered for STEM-field careers.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Across the country, people observed Juneteenth in their own ways. Some took to having celebrations, others looked to continue the push for social justice, and then there were some people who stopped to take a look at what the new federal holiday means to them as business owners.
Pi515 has partnered with AT&T and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers to create the SMART Cities Summer Challenge. The Pi515 SMART Cities and Data Challenge is a call to Iowa high school students to help identify modern solutions to increasingly urgent urban challenges faced by the state of Iowa.
Jade Nettrour is a senior in high school and has already designed an early prototype of new Christmas tree lights to make the annual decorating process easier — and more cat-friendly — for her family and their five felines. Nettrour’s demonstration earned her second place in a student “Shark Tank” pitch competition in 2020, and she’s now exploring patent options.
Des Moines nonprofit Pi515 has received a $100,000 donation from entrepreneur and philanthropist John Pappajohn to help grow and expand the program. Founded in 2014 by Nancy Mwirotsi, Pi515 is a Des Moines-based nonprofit organization that empowers disadvantaged youth to succeed by teaching them technology skills.
We know how important science, technology, engineering and math are for future workers. It is also important to make sure we are training a diverse group of students with STEM skills. In honor of National STEM Day, which was celebrated on Sunday, November 8th, we introduce you to Pi515.
Nancy Mwirotsi, founder of Pursuit of Innovation 515 (Pi515) in Des Moines, has been awarded a $10,000 Nation of Neighbors grant from Royal Neighbors of America, one of the first and largest women-led insurers in the country.
Nancy Mwirotsi, founder of Pursuit of Innovation 515 (Pi515) in Des Moines, Iowa, is already well-known in the community for her advocacy work on behalf of underserved women, refugees, and low-income students. She will now be able to expand these efforts, thanks to a 2020 Nation of NeighborsSM grant.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Technology is the wave of the future, being taught to kids who may not always have the tools to create one. “I wanted to target kids from those areas because what I’m trying to impact poverty. I am trying to make sure the young people growing up in poverty today can actually get out of poverty and be successful,” said Nancy Mwirotsi, the founder of Pursuing Innovation 515 in Des Moines.
We must prepare for foundational shifts to virtually all industries, including a necessarily altered workforce profile. All jobs are quickly changing but we are not adapting to change as quickly as we should. While automation and the Internet of things (IoT) are making many processes easier for each one of us, these fast-evolving technologies also present hurdles to overcome, particularly in terms of how we prepare our youth. As a community, we need not wait for an outside force to coddle or coerce us to adapt, rather, we can look to local resources to collectively prepare for and consciously choose the future we want.
The drive to draw more young women into science, technology, engineering and math has been gaining momentum in recent years. There s a program in Des Moines that makes sure low income girls are given a chance at the so called STEM fields.
The Legos are part of the curriculum for PI 515 (pursuit innovation)—a Des Moines-based non-profit organization that teaches science, technology, education and math (STEM) concepts to underserved junior high and high school students and refugees during the school year. Pi515 uses the Zion Lutheran Church for classes during the week and weekend.
Nancy Mwirotsi, an African native living in Des Moines, noticed how the refugees resettling in the city struggled, particularly the young girls. "I realized that we really need to start a unique program to reach out to the girls and really let them know that we are here for them," said Mwirotsi.
DES MOINES, Iowa—Computer jargon is not for the faint of heart, but Dieudonne Samuel follows the lesson with ease, typing a series of brackets and letters that somehow translate into a newly created website. This process of breaking down the page to its core components makes sense to him. He used to take apart electronics to see how they were put together, a baffling curiosity and mastery for a boy who just a decade ago lived in a refugee camp in Mozambique.
Nancy Mwirotsi was inspired to make a difference for refugee families living in Iowa, so she created a free program that teaches middle and high schoolers how to code.
Meet Maia, a 10th grader who's teaching coding classes all on her own.
Meet Nayeli Nazarit and hear about the projects that Pi515 offers our students
“Changing my mindset from a fear of failure to looking at risks and failure as an opportunity to learn has greatly improved my confidence and resilience in various situations.”
Eca and Tengenza are two students about to graduate high school. Now, they reflect on their time with Pi515.
2020 was not without its challenges, but we are still proud of all that we accomplished. Read all that happened in 2020 here:
The 2021 Girl's Entrepreneurship Summit inspires young women to become entrepreneurs by taking their business ideas and making them a reality.
Pi515 has been working to ensure that Des Moines students have access to the resources they need to succeed, but the digital gap remains large.
Read on to find out what we've been up to since the year began.
Pi515 is hosting a new type of fundraiser. The event will take place virtually on September 18th at 5pm CST.
Meet Bonito Ndayishimye, proud graduate of the Pi515 program and student at Iowa State University
“Pi515 has given me the opportunity to see a thriving environment and workplace. I'm able to meet passionate people, be part of a team, and work alongside others who also strive for the future they want.”
Pi515 has begun a pilot apprenticeship program for high school students. Read the details of the program here:
"You will always be able to add value to a project, meeting, or team. No one is the expert at everything, and diversity of ideas and thought is more valuable. You belong wherever you are; figure the rest out as you go."
Thank you to everyone who supported our annual fundraiser.
2021 was a busy year for us. Read on to see all that we accomplished.
"Going back to school for electrical engineering later in life was a major confidence booster for me. It is never too late to start something new. I also like to practice gratitude. I have a note on my mirror that says "3 Things". It reminds me to think of 3 things that I'm grateful for. Some days are easier than others to think of 3 things, but with practice it gets easier."
As we take in the new year, we would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been an incredible year of growth for our organization. Read on to get a recap into our year, and a short behind the scenes glance at what we have planned for the year of 2023!
Pi515 programs are designed for underserved middle and high school students. Pi515 serves over 100 low-income youth, most of whom are immigrants, refugees, or identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC).
Together, we must create a more equitable and safe community for all children.
