The Banyan Tree is an intergenerational community center based in Berkeley, CA. Our events, programs, and camps explore the history, culture, and experiences of South Asian communities and other communities of color in the Bay Area.
Visit us in Berkeley
We are located above the iconic Viks Chaat in West Berkeley. Stop by The Banyan Tree, join us for an event or class, and eat some yummy food!
Join our Community
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Events & Gatherings
From movie nights to celebrating holidays, we host events full of hands-on activities, thoughtful discussions, and learning.
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Classes & Workshops
We offer you and adult classes in everything from South Asian languages, dance, cooking, community organizing, sports, and more.
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Sundays Under The Banyan
Every Sunday, we run a youth program that supports our children in learning about South Asian history, culture, and food while building lifelong friendships along the way.
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Camps & Retreats
Our youth camps and adult weekend retreats are transformative experiences that create a world of fun, outdoor adventure, learning, reflection, and tasty food.
Why we exist
In South Asia, an old Banyan tree was a place of shade and sanctuary for communities to gather, for weary travelers to find respite, for elders to talk the afternoon away, and for children to play amidst its maze of branches. Like the neighborhood Banyan tree, we are a space for our communities to gather, grow, and thrive together.
South Asian families carry generations of wisdom—from food that heals to freedom stories. We are the Banyan Tree under which our communities can share this wisdom together, laugh together, eat together, learn together, grow together, and face the challenges of our society together.
Banyan trees grow their baby roots from their branches, until these roots grow into strong trunks of their own, and the Banyan trees of the future. We are a space for our youth and adults to find belonging, courage, and purpose together, so they can grow into the next generation of Banyan trees, providing safety, strength, and support to their communities.
learn about how to join our programs, partner, or get involved!
Contact Us
Have a question? Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!