To meet the interactive media industry's urgent need for trained workers, Arts Street and its education, workforce and business partners will be launching a year-long program beginning April 2008 to train young adults in "Visual Informatics". This is a cluster study of Web Design and Programming, Video Making and Production, and Geospatial Technology training. At the same time, participants will receive job readiness training, entrepreneurial business skills and employment guidance, as well as art and creative studies. One of the project's goals is to prepare young adults in smart and effective content development for web and mobile devices.

Arts Street is seeking businesses to help mentor these students, and to provide job shadowing and business internship to give our trainees practical experience in your industry and business culture. Among the partners are Emily Griffith Opportunity Schools, Career Education Center Middle College, Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College, Denver Area Council Boy Scouts of America , Denver Division of Workforce Development, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, Community NonProfit Development Corporation, Aurora Small Business Development Center, and supported by many business partners such as Merrick Engineering, Jeppesen, Fusionbox, Denver Open Media, T-mobile, ripcord, Aurora TV8, elevatedthird, and Phases5, Inc.

This training is FREE to interested young adults ages 18-24. They can earn up to 9 credits and a college certificate at completion, as well as gain internship experience and job referral or placement. Trainee applications are currently being accepted.

In addition, youth ages 16-18 can enroll in a 3-week intensive study of Video Mapping this summer. This tuition free class will help spark their interest in interactive media and lead them toward further education. Youth will also earn a stipend at their successful completion of this program.

To get more information on this program, visit www.visualinformatics.org.