This book presents seven case studies of middle school youth service programs that challenge their participants to change from takers to givers and from observers to active members of the community. Chapter 1 discusses new ways for responding to the needs of middle school youth and promoting community service. Chapter 2 describes a tutoring program in which Hispanic "at-risk" middle-school students tutor Hispanic "at-risk" elementary school students. Chapter 3 describes a combined academic and community alternative for potential drop-outs, and chapter 4 describes a program that helps keep middle-school youth from being recruited into gangs. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 describe, respectively, programs that bring youth into nursing homes to enrich the lives of the elderly and to increase the understanding of the old by the young; involve junior high school students in community service projects; and place students in a school-based community service program. Chapter 8 describes the integration of community service with learning in 40 schools, while Chapter 9 discusses lessons learned from the case studies in terms of youth services issues and new directions for middle-school students. The book contains two brief forewords by Senator Dave Durenberger and Senator Edward M. Kennedy respectively. Related materials and a directory of case study programs are appended. (RH)