Tyner honored with Nancy Latimer Award for advancing early childhood education and literacy justice

Dr. Artika R. Tyner, award-winning author, educator, attorney, and founder of Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJLI), has been honored with the Nancy Latimer Award at the 2026 Little Moments Count Annual Conference. The award recognizes Minnesota early childhood champions whose leadership embodies Nancy Latimer’s extraordinary legacy of service, innovation, advocacy, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of Minnesota’s youngest children.
A nationally recognized literacy advocate and founding member of the African American Babies Coalition, Dr. Tyner has dedicated her career to advancing educational equity, expanding access to early childhood literacy, and dismantling the cradle-to-prison pipeline. Her work is rooted in a powerful conviction: Every child deserves the opportunity to read, lead, and succeed.
“I’m truly honored to receive this award,” said Dr. Tyner. “This award represents a remarkable legacy – the legacy of Nancy Latimer. It is a legacy of service, a legacy of commitment, and a legacy of hope for the future. As we invest in early childhood education by leveraging our time, our talent, and our treasures, we are inspiring hope for generations to come.”
Transforming Lives Through Early Literacy
As founder and executive director of Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, Dr. Tyner has built a movement dedicated to promoting literacy, cultivating leadership, and creating educational opportunities for children and families. Through programs such as Leaders are Readers, PPGJLI brings generations together through community reading circles, culturally relevant children’s books, and family-centered literacy enrichment.
Over the past decade, PPGJLI has distributed more than 50,000 books and inspired over 12,000 children and families, helping address literacy disparities and expand access to educational resources.
“In my work at Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, we create change one book at a time and one child at a time as we help promote early literacy and build intergenerational reading circles,” Dr. Tyner said.
As a founding member of the African American Babies Coalition, Dr. Tyner has also championed efforts to improve outcomes for African American infants, young children, and families. Her advocacy emphasizes the importance of investing in children during their earliest years, strengthening families, and addressing systemic inequities that limit educational opportunities.
Breaking the Cradle-to-Prison Pipeline
Dr. Tyner’s commitment to early childhood education is deeply connected to her lifelong mission of dismantling the cradle-to-prison pipeline. Growing up in Saint Paul’s historic Rondo community, she witnessed firsthand how systemic inequities in education and the criminal justice system can shape the lives of children and families.
As an attorney and educator, she said she recognized the profound connection between literacy, educational opportunity, and justice. This understanding inspired her to create community-centered solutions that address literacy disparities before they become lifelong barriers.
Dr. Tyner has advanced a prevention-focused approach that places early literacy, family engagement, and educational equity at the center of efforts to build stronger communities.
Her message is clear: Investing in early childhood education is not only an educational imperative. It is an investment in justice, opportunity, and the future of our communities.
A Call to Action: Making HOPE an Action Verb
In accepting the award, Dr. Tyner challenged conference attendees to transform hope into meaningful action by investing in the next generation.
“My leadership challenge for you today is that we reclaim the very essence of HOPE by seeing it as an action verb that compels us to build a brighter future for our children,” said Dr. Tyner. “A commitment that we won’t wait for tomorrow, but TODAY we will invest in their health, their education, and their overall well-being. This award represents my commitment to that mission.”
Dr. Tyner’s recognition underscores the transformative power of servant leadership, community partnerships, and collective action in advancing early childhood education. As she continues her work, she remains committed to building a future where every child has access to the books, resources, relationships, and opportunities needed to thrive.
About Dr. Artika R. Tyner
Dr. Artika R. Tyner is an award-winning author, educator, attorney, and internationally recognized leadership scholar. A fifth-generation native of Saint Paul’s historic Rondo community, she is the founder of Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute and the author of more than 40 books. Her work focuses on literacy justice, educational equity, leadership development, and community empowerment. Through her writing, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, she inspires individuals and communities to become agents of social change.
About Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute
Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJLI) is a Saint Paul-based nonprofit organization dedicated to planting seeds of social change through education, training, and community outreach. Through early literacy initiatives, intergenerational reading circles, culturally relevant books, and leadership development programs, PPGJLI empowers children and families to build brighter futures—one child at a time, one book at a time.
Learn more at www.ppgjli.org.

Editor's note: Find Dr. Tyner's monthly column on early childhood education in the Monitor.