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Community Mews: Southwest to take. "Of course we want redevelopment, but the question is who's doing it." said Don Muhammad, education and events coordinator for World Stage, a local jazz spot. "There's always a danger when you don't own property and are renting, like most of us are." Brian Breye, a gallery owner who has been instrumental in bringing artists and merchants to the area, says he hopes the event will stimulate local interest in cultural activity in Leimert Park. "We have to make people aware of what's going on here," Breye said "People in the community haven't really supported us. We need to keep the dollars right here." The block party will feature refreshments, live jazz provided by the World Stage, a raffle and a preview of holiday goods for sale by local artists.

-ERIN J. AUBRY Lob Angeles Times "We have a common purpose: good business," says Eleanor Williams, marketing director for Shoppers World, which strives for a balanced ethnic makeup among vendors. Rafael Rodriguez, one of 230 merchants at the swap meet, sells Mexican leather goods at his booth. BALDWIN HILLS Swap Meet's Aim: to Make a Difference On the surface. Shoppers World looks like many other swap meets in Los Angeles, with about 230 merchants selling everything from compact discs to insurance policies in a cavernous warehouse at La Brea Avenue and Exposition Boulevard.

But Shoppers World aspires to be much more than a swap meet. Since opening about a year ago, it has implemented a minority entrepreneur program, sponsored a debate between candidates for Board of Supervisors in the 2nd District and started a jobs program for students. Saturday, the center is holding a health fair focusing on ethnic minorities, particularly African-Americans. Shoppers World managers have strived to bring in merchants of varied ethnic backgrounds in an area where most swap meets are dominated by Koreans. "When we came up with this concept, we knew it had to be different," said Shoppers World co-owner Michael Katz, who grew up in Los Angeles.

"We didn't just want to come in selling T-shirts and tennis shoes." Since the riots, which saw the destruction of several businesses at the nearby corner of La Brea Avenue and Rodeo Road, Shoppers World has enjoyed a surge of new customers and vendors who were displaced by the disturbances. The initial 40 occupancy rate at Shoppers World now stands at 70; sales have improved 30 since midyear, said co-owner Allan Davidov. Although Shoppers World welcomed new tenants, Davidov said he and Katz chose carefully. "We helped about 19 businesses get back on their feet," he said. "We didn't take everyone.

We wanted to maintain a focus on unique, one-of-a-kind stores." The Shoppers World also aims to be more like a mall than a swap meet. Parking is provided in a two-level garage, and the structure is heavily patrolled by security officers. Inside, spacious aisles separate booths and shoppers browse to the beat of piped-in music. The mall is planning to open a food court with five eateries, including a coffeehouse, within a month. Crenshaw resident Deborah Davis said that although she initially found the merchandise at Shoppers World similar to that of another swap meet she frequents, she's beginning to see changes that go beyond the goods.

"The weekend entrepreneur program, that's really different," Davis said. "They're offering more merchandise and helping the community at the same time. That's pretty unique." The entrepreneur program offers first-time vendors 10 to 50 discounts on initial JEFFERSON PARK lOOTreestoGiveLift to Jefferson Blvd. The Jefferson Park Improvement Project, a community beauti-fication program, will plant trees on Jefferson Boulevard between Crenshaw Boulevard and Western Avenue on Saturday starting at 8 a.m. "This is a dream come to fruition," said Brenda Robinson, a member of the Jefferson Park Steerinc Committee, which is sponsoring the event "After the civil unrest, we really were looking to involve the community in something that would give them pride." About 500 community volunteers and Marine reservists will plant 100 golden rain trees, most of which were donated by the Los Angeles Conservation Corps.

"There's been a lack of greenery around here for a long time," said Gus Harris, a committee member and busmen owner. "This will help beautify it, clean it up." Jefferson Park, a neighborhood in the Crenshaw district, is bounded by Crenshaw Boulevard on the west. Western Avenue on the east, Adams Boulevard on the north and Exposition Boulevard on the south. The Steering Committee was founded six years ago by the Rev. Dumas Harshaw of Trinity Baptist Church to unite churches, businesses and residents in beautifica-tion and improvement efforts.

The tree-planting project is a joint effort devised by Harshaw, the Rev. Oliver Brown of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Father Jerome Schmit of the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. Harris said the new trees will help beautify the community in time for the Jefferson Park parade and rally in January. "This is very timely," he said. Information: (213) 734-0722 or 735-0044.

ERIN J. AUBRY SUNDAY. NOVEMBER 29, 1992 PAGE 9 Crenshaw Leimert Baldwin Hills View Pari Hyde Park West Ade Ladera Heights Windsor deposits and rent for at least six months. Business promoter Debi Lewis, who has run the weekend entrepreneur program since July, said the low start-up cost and flexible, month-to-month leasing encourage business owners with little or no experience. "We provide space for a fraction of mall costs," Lewis said.

"People can try things out, see how they go, without giving up their 9-to-5 jobs right away." For Lisa Davis, Shoppers World gave her the incentive to launch Lisa's Gourmet Goodies, a sweetshop weekend business that is her first venture. "Everybody here has been real friendly," she said. "I've gotten a lot of encouragement. Shoppers World is also trying to reflect the ethnic diversity of the area in its merchants, 40 of whom are Asian, 30 African-American and 10 Latino. "This is like a small city, with many different races," said promotions and marketing director Eleanor Williams.

"But everybody gets along. We have a common purpose: good business." ERIN J. AUBRY 1 I LEIMERT PARK African-American Dance Studio Opens The Dance Collective, a dance studio operated by African-American dancers, teachers and choreographers, has opened. Dancers Pat Taylor, Nzingha Camara and Lady Helena Walquer Vereen founded the studio, which will focus on choreography workshops and classes. The studio, at 4327 Degnan will also develop and show works in progress.

As part of a community outreach effort, the studio will also have an after-school latchkey program for children, a "Rites of Passage" cultural program for girls ages 7 to 17, and a senior citizen center. A monthly lecture and discussion series, "A Conversation With will begin in January. A four-month jazz project will pair jazz choreographers with jazz composers in a collaborative effort with World Stage, a local jazz spot. Information: (213) 292-1538. LEIMERT PARK Watchdog Group Holds Block Party A group of merchants and residents will sponsor a block party today to introduce the newly formed Leimert Park Neighbors Partnership for Revitalization, a community watchdog group that monitors redevelopment efforts.

Laura Hendrix, owner of Gallery Plus and founder of the group, said the event, from 1 to 5 p.m. along Degnan Boulevard near 43rd Street, was planned to get residents more interested in redevelopment and other property matters in the Southwest area. "We have to become empowered, to have a voice," Hendrix said. "We want people to help plan what's going to happen in then-own back yard." The partnership of merchants and Leimert Park residents was formed last month and meets twice a week to discuss the direction they want redevelopment efforts CITY TIMES LOS-ANGELES TIMES.