Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute is a Saint Paul based nonprofit committed to growing strong readers and strong leaders. Through books, curriculum, and community centered programs, PPGJLI connects children and families with stories that reflect their cultures, histories, and possibilities. Their work brings together literacy, leadership development, and social change so that more young people can see themselves as leaders in school, at home, and in their communities.
If you believe in the power of books to change lives, Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute invites you to learn, give, and get involved.
Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute was created to address a clear and urgent need. Too many children, especially children of color, do not have access to books where they can see themselves, their families, or their communities reflected. Low literacy rates are closely tied to school pushout, limited opportunity, and higher involvement in the justice system. PPGJLI was founded to respond with a different kind of pipeline, one built on reading, leadership, and possibility.
From its home in Saint Paul, PPGJLI uses the arts and humanities to promote literacy and increase diversity in children’s books. The organization publishes multicultural stories, donates thousands of books, and partners with schools, libraries, and community groups to host read aloud events, book drives, and leadership programs. Through initiatives like Leaders are Readers, youth writing projects, and global leadership exchanges, PPGJLI helps young people discover their voice, their power, and their capacity to create change.
Their work is rooted in a simple belief. When children are surrounded by stories that affirm their worth and broaden their view of the world, they are more likely to imagine new futures for themselves and their communities.
Dr Artika Tyner is a lawyer, educator, and social change leader who has devoted her career to advancing racial justice and educational equity. After years of teaching, practicing law, and leading university wide diversity and inclusion work, she founded Planting People Growing Justice and later Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute to bring her research and passion into direct community action.
Dr Tyner created the Planting People Growing Justice framework to show how leadership can be cultivated like a seed. Her approach centers literacy, cultural pride, and community engagement as everyday tools for social change. Under her leadership, PPGJLI has published award winning books, trained emerging leaders, and donated tens of thousands of diverse children’s books locally and globally. She is known for her ability to translate complex issues into practical tools that families, schools, and organizations can use. Through PPGJLI, Dr Tyner continues to invite people of all ages to discover the leader within and plant seeds of justice in their own communities.
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