THE PROGRAM WAS BASED IN THE NEAR WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO, WHEN IT WAS A SLUM INHABITED BY ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS, AN AREA WITH HIGH RATES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. SINCE DELINQUENCY IS VIEWED BY THE AUTHOR IN A BROAD SOCIAL CONTEXT, SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS ARE CONSIDERED: ETHNIC IDENTITY, THE ALIENATION OF THE SCHOOL FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND URBAN RENEWAL. THE LAST SECTION OF THE BOOK DEALS WITH INTERNAL STRUCTURES AND DIFFICULTIES OF THE NEAR WEST SIDE COMMUNITY COMMITTEE AND THE CHICAGO AREA PROJECT TODAY AND GIVES A GLIMPSE OF CONNECTIONS WITH CITY, STATE, AND NATIONAL PROBLEMS AND POWERS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP