Town or City Youth Advisory Council
Many towns and cities in America have youth advisory councils (or opportunities for youth to sit in observational roles on committees or subcommittees). This is an incredible opportunity for a young person to witness the inner workings of government at a level that is less intimidating. These roles also tend to create interesting networking and access opportunities for teens who are interested in civics, policy and government. Also consider pursuing an opportunity in a more specialized area (like finance, education or sustainability). These tend to be among the most active areas of local government so can be particularly impactful and rewarding for a motivated teen.
Here are just a few examples:
Research your own town or city [for example: “(city name) youth council”]. You’ll be amazed much is out there.