By Charles Warren, The Freelancer
The WorldBeat Cultural Center marked its 33rd Annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 20, 2025, at Balboa Park with a day full of cultural richness, conscious living, and community spirit. Founder and Executive Director Makeda “Dread” Cheatom greeted a large, enthusiastic crowd with a powerful message: “None of us are free until all of us are free.” Her words set the tone for a gathering that blended environmental awareness with multicultural unity.
Attendees enjoyed a diverse all-vegetarian food court, wellness and artisan vendors, and earth-friendly informational booths promoting sustainable living and holistic wellness.
Cultural showcases captivated audiences throughout the day, featuring Japanese Taiko drumming by San Diego Taiko, electrifying hip-hop by Junkyard Dance Crew, West African drumming and dance, and Afro-Cuban percussion by Juan Sanchez and Ensemble. Brazilian rhythms pulsed through the park with a performance by Super Sonic Samba, while a Native American blessing and drumming by Tim Red Bird and the Red Warriors offered a spiritual grounding. Earth poetry by Jonnierenee Nia Nelson, supported in part by a grant from Poets & Writers, brought reflection and reverence to the celebration.
Guest speakers Starla Lewis and Dr. Derah inspired listeners with messages of empowerment, complemented by live performances that underscored the event’s central theme—honoring Earth through cultural expression, community action, and shared freedom.
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