Institutions of higher education have been unable or unwilling to make constructive and consistent use of student leadership as an advocate for the institutions. This is especially paradoxical in the case of community colleges, since two-year college students often have significant links to the community. If the potential for leadership among these students were systematically cultivated, a powerful voice could be created to help colleges explain their missions and needs to lawmakers, the media, and the voting public. Some 8 million voters are currently attending community colleges across the nation, a sufficient number to provide a major source of political strength for higher education. Community colleges are facing financial constraints at local, state, and federal levels. Among the financial issues affecting community college students, obvious examples are student financial aid, employee educational assistance, and workforce training programs. Pell grants in particular are essential to many community college students' ability to attend school, and student leaders are calling for a strong student advocacy role with congress and state agencies to reverse the decline of Pell Grant funding. Community college student leaders are building the framework for a state and national network in the American Student Association of Community Colleges (ASACC). ASACC seeks to help students develop and expand leadership skills through networking and hands-on organizational experiences and to give the colleges a strong and cohesive citizen-consumer voice. (AC)