KNOW YOUR ROOTS. GROW TOGETHER.
KNOW YOUR ROOTS. GROW TOGETHER.
The Banyan Tree creates classes, camps, and events around South Asian stories, histories, and cultures for people of all ages.
Root to Rise
Enroll your child now! Accepting 8-13 year olds.
The Root to Rise program is a weekly gathering for 8-13 year old youth in Berkeley, CA. We bring stories of South Asian history to life through fun activities across art, mindfulness, STEM, sports, cooking, dance, and so much more. We support our youth in exploring their interests, building supportive friendships, and ultimately creating a multimedia magazine together that represents their discoveries through the program.
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 world 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, our baby roots, to claim the resources they need to grow into the next generation of Banyan trees.
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!