Name: Birds, Culture and the Freedom of Belonging
Start: 2026-02-26T17:30:00-08:00
Location: WorldBeat Cultural Center

Birds, Culture, and the Freedom of Belonging: A Celebration with Makeda & Marilú at WorldBeat Cultural Center
Sponsored by Bushnell
For over 13 years, Makeda Cheatom of the WorldBeat Center and Marilú of Celebrate Urban Birds have walked a shared path—one where birds, culture, history, and science come together in joyful connection. What began as a citizen science project has grown into a community-led celebration of belonging, where people of all backgrounds come together to explore nature, share knowledge, and engage with science in meaningful ways.
We’ve learned that birding can be so much more than counting birds. It’s a chance to slow down, be present, listen deeply, and connect with the wisdom of our ancestors, the communities around us, and with ourselves. By bridging communities and scientific institutions, we create spaces where people can actively participate in, contribute to, and use science—while celebrating culture, heritage, and identity.
From the Harriet Tubman Freedom Bird Walks during Juneteenth to cross-cultural collaborations in Baja, our work shows what’s possible when music, art, science, gardening, and community come together with curiosity, care, and purpose. Join us as we share how this journey has transformed the way we bird, connect with each other, and experience the freedom of belonging.
Celebrate birds and culture with Ms. Makeda Dread Cheatom and Marilú López Fretts at WorldBeat Cultural Center.
Program
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Happy Hour with drinks and mocktails, food from the African Diaspora, with cultural and traditional music
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Makeda Dread Cheatom and Marilú López-Fretts Keynote Presentation
7:30 pm - 8:00 pm Cultural program featuring traditional African bird drum and dance
About the Keynotes
In 1989, Ms. Makeda established the WorldBeat Cultural Center, transforming a former water tower in Balboa Park into a nonprofit multicultural center. As Executive Director, she built it into a thriving hub of music, art, ecology, and education. Her work has also extends into environmental stewardship. She founded the WorldBeat Ethnobotany Garden, where medicinal and edible plants are used to teach about ecology, health, and regenerative agriculture. Her projects have grown to include collaborations with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Science Foundation’s NOISE Project, advancing research on culture, ecology, and environmental justice. Through initiatives like “Growing to Preserve Ancestral Seeds,” she has championed food sovereignty, seed preservation, and climate resilience.
Marilú López-Fretts serves as the project leader of Celebrate Urban Birds, a participatory science initiative from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that connects communities with birds, nature, and science. She works closely with diverse communities across the Americas, the Caribbean, and Ghana, fostering partnerships that center local knowledge and priorities. Marilú co-develops and facilitates culturally relevant educational materials about regional birds and their habitats. She enjoys finding creative ways to bridge science, people, and nature through bird observations, habitat restoration, gardening, culture, and the arts. She is passionate about making birdwatching, and environmental education welcoming to all, amplifying diverse perspectives in science and birding, and creating spaces where different voices are heard and valued.
After Happy Hour, guests can enjoy additional food and beverages available for purchase at the One World Beat Café.
Ticket Types:
This event is free with an optional $30 ticket donation to San Diego Bird Alliance to support this program and programs like this.
$30 Ticket Donation to SDBA
$30 Transportation (to and from Marina Village Conference Center)
$60 Ticket Donation to SDBA + Transportation (to and from Marina Village Conference Center)
Parking
Street Parking: Free & Paid parking is available on nearby city streets.