Pi515, a nonprofit providing tech education and mentorship to underserved and refugee youths, announced it will be working with the Microsoft TechSpark program, which launched five years ago to support nonprofits, create jobs and help communities develop digital skills. Since its inception, TechSpark has helped eight communities secure more than $125 million in community funding, teach skills to 55,000 people, and create 3,300 jobs, according to a news release. In February, Microsoft announced it is expanding the program to all 50 states, using a new TechSpark Fellows model. Pi515 is one of the organizations to receive a grant to fund a TechSpark Community Engagement Fellow, who will spearhead local efforts to expand computer science education, inclusive digital skilling, digital access and digital transformation. The TechSpark fellow will be the first to work in Iowa, the release said. “We are honored to collaborate with Microsoft TechSpark to empower more students and prepare them for the future of work. In a world characterized by constant changes in the job market, this opportunity allows us to leverage resources and expertise to scale our programs effectively. Our vision is to expand our reach to rural Iowa, addressing the skills gap and rising unemployment rates in the region,” Nancy Mwirotsi, Pi515 founder and executive director, said in a prepared statement.