Twelve junior and senior high schools in California and ten in New York City are working to mitigate violence and vandalism in their schools and reduce high droupout and absentee rates by addressing a problem central to these issues--student alienation. Through the Open Road Student Involvement Project, natural student leaders form a volunteer base of concerned students. They receive instruction in leadership skills, conflict negotiation, and communication skills. The goal is to involve students--particularly those uninvolved before--in real decision making about school policies. (Author)