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Planting People Growing Justice™ Leadership Institute (PPGJLI) is celebrating eight years of making a difference in the world. Through our groundbreaking approach, which uniquely combines a publishing house, bookstore, and literacy nonprofit, we are dedicated to ending the nation’s reading crisis.
PPGJLI is committed to growing futures – one book at a time and one child at a time. This is personal and important to me because as a civil rights attorney, many of my clients learned how to read in prison. This is unacceptable but somehow our society has created a Rule of 4: one in four American children are not reading at grade level by 4th grade. If you are not reading at grade level by 4th grade, you are four times more likely to drop out of school. And here’s the connection, you are also three and a half times more likely to be arrested during your lifetime. This is unacceptable. Yet, this is an opportunity for change where we can create new pipelines for the future success of our children and work to end mass incarceration.
During our annual event, PPGJLI will honor five local leaders who are building these new pipelines for success. They will be honored with the Planting People Growing Justice™ Leadership Institute (PPGJLI) Excellence in Education Awards. The event and awards will be held on Friday, Oct.25, 2024, from 8-9 a.m. at the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis, located at 410 Oak Grove St. in Minneapolis.
PPGJLI’s Excellence in Education Award was created to recognize the many contributions of individuals within the community. Excellence in Education honorees are:
• Dr. Darlene Frye, Irreducible Grace Foundation
• Dr. Tamara Gray, Rabata
• Jacob Deisch, Gideon CC
• Dr. Joseph Mbele, St. Olaf College
• Brandi Pottle, Maxfield Elementary School
• Kevin Reese, Until We Are All Free
• Bob-e Simpson Epps, Base Consulting
The awards celebrate the achievements of community members whose efforts exemplify the goals and values of PPGJLI. The organization is planting the seeds of social change through its many youth literacy, leadership, and advocacy programs and initiatives.
The PPGJLI fundraiser brings together like-minded people who want to make a difference, help PPGJLI grow, and empower youth through literacy, leadership, and diverse books.
Since its founding, PPGJLI has inspired 66 new authors, donated more than 25,000 diverse and multi-cultural books, and reached over 6,000 children through its Leaders are Readers program. The organization has more than 30,000 read-aloud listeners.
PPGJLI inspires, equips, and fosters future leaders through school visits, the arts and humanities, education, workshops, and seminars. PPGJLI initiatives encompass read-aloud events, book giveaways, and youth writing competitions. We also teach about STEAM leadership and careers. PPGJLI also launched the Rondo Renaissance project to educate our youth on the importance of culture and heritage. The project focuses on building a comprehensive learning curriculum and arts district in the historic Rondo community.
The PPGJLI’s Excellence in Education Awards honors outstanding community leaders, while the 8th anniversary fundraiser helps continue and expand our youth-oriented programs. Set for Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, the event is a meaningful way for individuals and businesses to support literacy, community youth, outstanding leaders, and PPGJLI’s many leadership programs. The organization’s efforts are leading the way in showing youths their many growth opportunities, allowing them to take their rightful place in any future endeavor they wish to pursue.
PPGJLI’s fundraising goal is $100,000. Tickets to the fundraiser and awards celebration are $30 each and can be purchased online now. (www.ppgjli.org)
Through her organization, Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, Dr. Artika Tyner seeks to plant seeds of social change through education, training, and community outreach.
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