PI 515

This year, we’re excited to announce that Pi515 is partnering with the State of Iowa’s 21st Century Community Learning Center (21CCLC) program! 🎉

As one of just four community-based organizations selected for this cohort, Pi515 is honored to have our work recognized by the Iowa Department of Education.

Through 21CCLC, we’re expanding access to mentorship, work-based learning, technology training, advanced skill development, and free college credit for students across the Des Moines metro.

This partnership gives us the opportunity to reach more students, strengthen our support, and help prepare Iowa’s next generation of leaders. 🚀

Proud doesn't begin to cover it. 💚

Pi515 alums Jef Allen, Moss Louvan, and Champ Pacifique-Muzika took the stage at for "AI Natives: How Young Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Tech," moderated by Nancy Mwirotsi and Bobby Nishimwe.

Drawing on their learning and internships at Amazon, John Deere, Pi515, and beyond, they explored AI's promise, from new capabilities for surgeons to AI agents that expand what organizations can do. They also didn't shy away from the hard questions: security risks, the need for strong human review in development, and keeping the human experience at the center of every innovation.

Bonus: our students got to connect with Joseph Nelson, Co-founder & CEO of Roboflow, on the sidelines of the week!

The future of tech needs to be human-first, and it's in great hands with these young leaders.

What a night! 💚

A huge THANK YOU to all of the students and families who came out to our Pi515 Open House last week! We loved seeing new faces, reconnecting with our Pi515 community, and spending time together.

Whether you’re already a part of Pi515 or just getting to know us, we hope the evening gave you a glimpse into what’s ahead. From meeting the people behind our offerings, to learning more about the opportunities available to students, it was great to kick off the year together!

Thank you for showing up, supporting our mission, and being part of the Pi515 community. We’re so glad you’re here, and we can’t wait for what’s ahead.

Here’s to an exciting year! 🎉💚

Today kicks off our Tech Mentorship offering, and we could not be more excited!

We want to take a moment to thank our sponsors who help make this experience possible and invest in upskilling Iowa youth.

Thank you to John Deere, Principal Financial Group, Polk County Board of Supervisors, and United Way for supporting Pi515 and helping students build skills, connect with industry mentors, and take the next steps towards a successful future.

We’re excited to kick off our sixth year of Tech Mentorship with you in our corner!

Let’s talk about the issues impacting our community and the next generation.

Join Pi515 for our first Vision Breakfast on October 2 as we convene our community for a conversation on human-first innovation, cybersecurity, and digital wellness.

Enjoy coffee and pastries, connect with others, build awareness, and share ideas about how we can create a tech and digital environment that keeps people at the center.

Register using the link in our bio to attend. Space is limited!

Thinking about what comes after high school? Start exploring your options now. 🎓

At Pi515, we help students build pathways toward college and careers, and that includes connecting students with scholarship opportunities to get you there.

The National College Match could connect eligible seniors with full four-year scholarships at top colleges.

Don’t wait. Apply by October 1st → https://ow.ly/cBFb50ZOvx1

⏰ Applications are closing soon!

Future-of-work skills start here.

Apply for Tech Mentorship, Career Accelerator, AI Navigator, or the Youth Advisory Board and get connected to mentors, real-world experiences, and a path toward your future career.

Don’t wait – apply now https://ow.ly/6RpB50ZMnbZ

As we wrap up our Senior Spotlight, we are celebrating Sophea today!

Sophea graduated from Urbandale High School and will be attending DMACC in the fall, where she plans to pursue a degree in Business Administration Entrepreneurship.

Throughout her time with Pi515, she has been involved in Girls’ Entrepreneurship Incubator, and the Day of Innovation. GEI expanded Sophea’s knowledge on entrepreneurship with the intention of starting her own business.

Her favorite Pi515 memory has been getting to meet industry experts and network with them, while exploring new places in Iowa.

We are so proud of you, Sophea! We cannot wait to see all that you will accomplish next! 🎓💚

From Pi515 to the workforce 🚀

Champ and Moss joined Pi515 in high school through our Tech Mentorship Program. This summer, both completed software engineering internships — Champ with Amazon Leo, and Moss with John Deere Channel AI.

Champ: From Pi515 to Amazon Leo
“Officially wrapped up an incredible 12 weeks as an SDE intern at Amazon Leo. Working alongside a team of incredible engineers and people has been a master class of what it means to operate at a high level. This experience has allowed me to further mature how I problem solve, navigate ambiguity, and collaborate with a fast-paced environment.”

Moss: John Deere Internship Pathway
“Just wrapped up my summer internship with the Channel AI team at John Deere! This summer I got to work on the dealer assistant, build MCP servers, work through user stories, and build an MCP app. One of my biggest takeaways was learning a ton about system design and seeing how different parts of a real production system come together.”

Their journeys show what's possible when students have access to work-based learning, industry mentors, and real-world experiences.

We're excited about what they will do next! 💚