The ERC for Integrated Media Systems at the University of Southern California (EEC 9529152) has initiated the Multimedia University Academy (MUA), which offers at-risk youth an opportunity to pursue engineering and computer science careers by providing training and instruction in the principles of computing and multimedia design and by encouraging further education and career development. Fifty-nine young people have graduated from the MUA, and virtually all are either working in the field, continuing their education, or both. Special Center programs for dislocated workers have resulted in the retraining and return of more than 240 people to the workforce.