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This paper describes an uncommon approach to service learning. The students in a class at California State University Los Angeles are placed with experts of the political advocacy process, not with charitable nonprofits. Making use of a variety of organizations located in the greater Los Angeles region, the course offers students the opportunity to volunteer either (1) in the regional office of an interest group, (2) at the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment of the City of Los Angeles, or (3) in constituency service at the district office of an elected official. To demonstrate points of access to the political system to disaffected young people, the service-learning component is integrated in one section of the basic U.S. and state government course, a general education requirement for all college graduates in the state of California. The students ' favorable ratings of the course when it was first offered in fall 2001 and in winter 2003 confirm the appropriateness of the approach. Service learning i