This guide is written for teenagers who may be considering becoming active in their communities. It explains ways teens can increase their power and effectiveness in community life and some of the things they will encounter along the way. It begins by emphasizing the importance of community service, illustrating the ways that teens already may be involved. The guide helps teenagers identify reasons they might want to get further involved. It describes the use of community forums among local leaders and other concerned citizens, including youth, to determine community needs and the best approaches to help meet them. Citizen action to bring about social change involves four primary types of activities: organizing, "knowing your stuff," public education, and lobbying officials. Advising policymakers is another method of influencing policy. Public hearings, written commentary, advisory committees, and special meetings are all types of political-advisory activities. Electoral participation is the most basic form of U.S. citizen participation. Volunteer community service and organizing volunteer efforts are also examples of community commitment. The guide offers tips for developing skills for effective community action. Such skills include becoming an active learner and basing one's performance on a set of commonly shared principles and values. Good planning is key to any successful community-action project. Other skills include running effective meetings, persuasive letter-writing, using the telephone effectively, making well planned presentations before public officials, using existing agencies and networks, and publicizing projects. (TES)