Be a part of creating a South Asian community center where people of all ages and backgrounds can connect, family histories can be discovered, and the next generation can flourish. Right now, the Banyan Tree is being run out of our founders' homes, which is limiting our ability to provide the programming our community has asked for - including immigration legal clinics, youth music & dance classes, a wider set of language classes, more spots in our waitlisted youth programs, etc. With the support of the City of Berkeley, we are working to rent a space in Downtown Berkeley that is BART / public transit accessible. However, we need your help to pay for our deposit, permits, and first few months of rent so we can build a space for all of you!

The Banyan Tree is raising funds for a permanent home: a vibrant, intergenerational space in Downtown Berkeley for South Asian Americans and all who feel connected to South Asia. Our secular, inclusive offerings will include classes, camps, and events across South Asian music, dance, art, yoga, sports, history, languages, media arts, activism, and more.

The Banyan Tree is one of the only secular, inclusive, pan-South Asian community centers in the United States that offers comprehensive programming designed by and for South Asians of all ages who are growing up and living in the United States. Please help us stay alive and build a beautiful space for you and the next generation!

What We're Building:

Our community center will be a place where grandparents can pass down recipes and folklore, parents can find cultural programming for their children, young adults can explore their heritage, and neighbors of all backgrounds can gather over chai and conversation. From toddler storytime featuring tales from across the subcontinent to youth leadership programs, from dance classes to discussions on diaspora identity, this is a space where every generation belongs.

Who We Are:

We're a secular, inclusive, and equity-centered organization committed to celebrating the rich diversity of South Asian cultures, languages, and traditions in our homelands and diasporas. Whether your family has been here for generations or you've newly immigrated, whatever your religion, region, gender, sexuality, immigration status, or caste, you are welcome to take shade under the Banyan Tree.

The Impact:

Every donation helps us create a lasting home where South Asian American stories, histories, languages, cultures, and organizing can thrive for generations to come. It also gives us a space to support the needs of all immigrant communities in the East Bay, including immigration legal clinics, organizing, and a place for cultural/historical education. If you feel called to be part of this growing community, consider donating to bring the Banyan Treehouse to life!