CASE HISTORIES OF SYSTEMATIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS INVOLVING EIGHT RURAL COMMUNITIES (INCLUDING ALL OF POPE COUNTY) AND EAST ST. LOUIS PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF GRASS ROOTS DECISION MAKING IN SOCIAL, CULTURAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, EDUATIONAL, AND CIVIC BETTERMENT, AND ILLUSTRATE BASIC APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT--EDUCATING YOUTH, WORKING WITH ADULT POPULATIONS IN ATTEMPTING GRADUALLY TO CHANGE HABITS AND ATTITUDES, AND INTRODUCING OUTSIDERS TO INITIATE CHANGE. EXPERIENCES RELEVANT TO THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITY PLANNING CONSULTANTS AND TO THE TRAINING OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PERSONNEL ARE CONSIDERED. QUESTIONS, ISSUES, AND HYPOTHESES ARE FRAMED FOR FUTURE SOCIAL ACTION RESEARCH. BASIC OBJECTIVES OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE, FOR $2.50, FROM THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS PRESS, 419 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, S.E., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20003. 363 PAGES. (LY)