As a non-profit multi-cultural arts organization we are dedicated to promoting, presenting & preserving the African Diaspora & Indigenous cultures of the world through Music, Art, Dance, Multi-Media Arts, Education, and STEAM Research. We are the home of 101.1FM KVIB, a low-power FM station operated by WorldBeat Center and Positive Hope. We are located in beautiful Balboa Park in the heart of San Diego, California. Through consciousness raising the WorldBeat Center promotes peace within our San Diego community by providing on-going programs and services that nurture the spirit of children, the elderly, and everyone in between. Our main goal is then to create unity within diversity.
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Recent Activity at WBC!
Summer Camp 2025
WorldBeat Center's summer camp programming for 2025 was a vibrant and enriching experience for participants, blending creativity, wellness, and cultural education. Kicking off in June with Miss Monie and Diva Works Dance, this year’s camps featured a dynamic mix of...
Peppermint to cool and uplift our spirits By Cindy Saylor
Peppermint to cool and uplift our spirits By Cindy Saylor, Peppermint is easy to grow, delightfully aromatic, uplifting to our spirit and cooling when we are overheated. A cup of Peppermint tea is beloved in many cultures and traditions. In these times when our hearts...
Watermelon Fasting: Reclaiming Health and Cultural Significance by Makeda Cheatom
At the height of summer, few fruits capture the spirit of the season like watermelon. Juicy, hydrating, and naturally sweet, watermelon is more than a treat—it's a powerful tool for health and a deeply symbolic fruit that carries a complex cultural history, especially...
Honoring the Legacy of the Gee’s Bend Quilters by Makeda Cheatom
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is proud to honor the incredible artistry and legacy of the Gee’s Bend Quilters—Black women from the isolated community of Gee’s Bend (now Boykin), Alabama, who have transformed humble materials into world-renowned works of art for...
3rd Annual Harriet Tubman Freedom Bird Watch – Juneteenth Celebration Part II
3rd Annual Harriet Tubman Freedom Bird Watch - Juneteenth Celebration Part II Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday, June 21st for this year’s Harriet Tubman Freedom Bird Watch—a day filled with cultural remembrance, environmental awareness, and community...
Event Recap: Juneteenth Celebration – Part I
Thank you to everyone who joined us on June 19th for Part I of our Juneteenth celebration at WorldBeat Cultural Center. It was a full house and a powerful evening of culture, remembrance, and community. We were honored to welcome representatives from the California...
Threads of Freedom: A Celebration of Quilted Resistance
WorldBeat Center proudly presents Threads of Freedom, the second quilt exhibit honoring the artistry, resilience, and coded language of African American quilting traditions. The centerpiece of the exhibit features two stunning works by Kim Ballentine Lane,...
Black Birders Week 2025
In celebration of Black Birders Week, the WorldBeat Cultural Center, in partnership with the San Diego Bird Alliance, hosted a vibrant community bird outing on May 31st at Chollas Lake Park. The event welcomed families, first-time birders, seasoned bird enthusiasts,...
Quilt Codes of the Underground Railroad: Hidden Messages on the Road to Freedom
The story of the Underground Railroad is one of extraordinary courage, resilience, and ingenuity. It is widely believed that quilts—ordinary household items—may have been used as powerful tools of communication for enslaved people seeking freedom. These quilts,...