About Us
Our Mission
Banana Leaf Collective is a Twin Cities-based community exploring the intersection of storytelling; mutual aid practices; and cultural work as a means of combating systems of oppression.
We aim to create a space that nurtures our members’ ambitions and creativity through collaboration and relationship building; that de-centers whiteness; and operates within a culture of abundance, mutual respect, and accountability.
Our Story
Banana Leaf Collective started out as a weekly video call between two disgruntled graphic designers and a videographer, and is now a creative community that gathers both virtually and in-person at our 1,000 square-foot studio space in Northeast Minneapolis. We made the decision to move into a studio and become more public-facing in March of 2021.
Our Goals
Connecting early career (0 - 3 years in their respective field) and young people
Creating a community space that centers and uplifts Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)
Disrupting individualized and competitive patterns of work; prioritizing rest and healing
Embodying a decentralized power structure, as well as a culture of mutual respect and accountability
Exploring practices of mutual aid and the politics of cultural work as a means to combat systems of oppression
Nurturing collective members’ creativity and career goals through collaboration, mutual trust, and relationship building
