WorldBeat Cultural Center and EthnoBotany Children's Peace Garden

In 1989, Makeda Cheatom founded the WorldBeat Cultural Center and EthnoBotany Children's Peace Garden in Balboa Park. This non-profit multicultural arts organization includes an indoor multicultural museum and learning space, as well as an outdoor classroom, living plant museum, and urban nature sanctuary. Cheatom's vision for founding the WorldBeat Cultural Center remains focused on raising world consciousness in the areas of music, dance and the arts, while promoting multicultural education and understanding. Her intention for creating the outdoor EthnoBotany Children's Peace Garden on land that is adjacent to the indoor multicultural center remains to teach people about indigenous cultures, particularly plants that are significant within these cultures around the world.

In 1989, Makeda Cheatom founded the WorldBeat Cultural Center and EthnoBotany Children's Peace Garden in Balboa Park. In alignment with Cheatom's initial vision, the non-profit multicultural arts organization's mission remains focused on encouraging "unity within diversity while teaching world peace." Cheatom has also shared with visitors that her vision includes teaching people about indigenous cultures and raising world consciousness through music, art, and dance.

The landscape surrounding the multicultural center features the EthnoBotany Children's Peace Garden. This outdoor space was designed to encourage multicultural understanding, serenity, and reflection. The EthnoBotany Children's Peace Garden includes raised vegetable garden beds, a native plant garden, and a tropical fruit tree "food forest." In addition, there are also intentional meditation spaces, along with shade trees and benches that provide quiet places to sit and reflect.

Cheatom continues to serve as the Executive Director of the WorldBeat Cultural Center and EthnoBotany Children's Peace Garden. On behalf of the non-profit multicultural arts organization, she has produced a wide range of programming in the areas of music, dance, and the arts. She has introduced new artists to the community from a diversity of cultures, representing a number of different artistic genres.

Since founding the organization in 1989, Cheatom has won many awards, including being recognized by the City of San Diego as a cultural bridge builder and being inducted to the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame in 2012. Additionally, she is the founder and host of a radio show called Reggae Makossa.

EthnoBotany Children's Peace Garden, Balboa Park. Accessed November 5th 2021. https://www.balboapark.org/gardens/ethnobotony-childrens-peace.

Lynch, Martha . "WorldBeat’s EthnoBotany Peace Garden links serenity with learning", The San Diego Union-Tribune. March 26th 2021. Accessed November 5th 2021. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle/home-and-garden/story/2021-03-26/worldbeats-ethnobotany-peace-garden-links-serenity-with-learning.

Makeda "Dread" Cheatom, WorldBeat Cultural Center. Accessed November 5th 2021. https://www.worldbeatcenter.org/about-us/people/.