Tara Kola

Cofounder & CEO

Connect: tara@the-banyan-tree.org

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in the Bay Area and lived here until I was 13, when my family moved to India. My 5 years as a teenager in India were spent climbing Banyan trees, conducting elaborate pranks at school, reading endlessly, and facing the challenges of being an adolescent girl surrounded by the unconditional love of my neighbors. I have loved history since my earliest memories. History has helped me think critically, and see the hidden stories in the world around me. I did my M.A. in South Asian History at Tufts University. I have spent my career working on youth education and entertainment, with a particular focus on history. I previously worked as the Founder & Executive Director of Camp Kahani, a feminist history summer camp for South Asian girls that is now part of the Banyan Tree programs. I also worked as Director of Education & Partnerships at South Asian Youth Action in NYC, a Senior Researcher for Adobe Education, and a Product Manager at Rebel Girls, a kids media company with a focus on feminist history / stories. My greatest joy is encountering a well-told story that changes the way I see the world - and watching a young person find their unique voice in the face of life’s ups and downs, just as I try to everyday.

What motivates you to be part of the Banyan Tree?

It has been my dream for a long time to see an inclusive South Asian community center that allows every single person who enters its doors to thrive, and experience genuine belonging. I feel blessed to be working with this amazing team of people I love and respect to bring this shared dream to life.

If you could be a potato, how would you be prepared?

I would be the masala filling in a crispy Bangalore dosa, coated with spicy chutney podi and ghee, and regularly dipped in sambar and excessively nutty peanut chutney.

We asked our team, “What is Tara’s superpower?” Here’s what one person said.

“Tara has the amazing ability to bring together people of different skills, spaces of different aesthetics, and stories from different histories to cultivate a new perspective. She knows how to encourage excellence in every being and every space she encounters. Through her superpower, this organization was born!”