Advocate
What we do
Raise awareness of the reading crisis
Support diverse books and authors
Promote cultural preservation
How we do it
Education and training
Community engagement
Global leadership
Why we do it
Ignite leadership in every child
End school-to-prison pipeline
Create social change
You can help!
Our work at PPGJLI is dependent on the generosity of corporations, foundations, and individuals such as yourself to further our mission. Support our efforts:
Since 2014, Planting People, Growing Justice™ has been the guiding principle of Dr. Tyner’s leadership development and community engagement work. This model, developed by Dr. Tyner, focuses on the future of social change and community-building.
Our Mission: Inspire
Planting People
Planting people is an organic process, which yields a great harvest over time. It starts from the ground up as a seed is planted until it takes root. This seed represents resistance against marginalization and oppression in order to further the cause of social justice. The seed also signifies a partnership between lawyers and community stakeholders. The ultimate result is creating social change which equates to reaping a harvest of justice, fairness, and equity.
Growing Justice
Growing Justice is the materialization of planting people. Collectively, community members across the world are applying these principles to promote justice and the common good. This process of social change can be envisioned through the continual growth of the Banyan tree. The Banyan tree as a metaphor illuminates the image of the partnership between lawyers and community partners working together in solidarity to eradicate marginalization. Unique to this tree is its ability to grow upwards since new roots are formed from the branches. Each community member represents a branch as their leadership voice begins to emerge. These branches grow upward together and are intertwined as they exercise their united power and utilize their voices to advocate for social change.
Planting seeds of social change. Inspiring and equipping leader.
Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute™
History
Dr. Tyner founded the nonprofit, Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, with a small group of community members in my living room. We were determined to end the school to prison pipeline. Now, we are creating new pipelines to success for all children by promoting reading and diversity in children’s books. PPGJLI has achieved several milestones:
Donating
over 18,000 books to children
Inspiring
over 5,000 children with school visits
Reading
to over 30,000 participants through virtual read alouds
What we are working on now
100 Black Authors Campaign
This campaign will build an ecosystem for new literary artists. We are training, equipping, and motivating the next generation of Black authors with the goal of publishing 100 Black authors over the next 10 years.
The Black Doll Project
There are very few Black dolls or toys widely available or at an affordable price. The importance of children seeing their own faces reflected in their toys can’t be underestimated. We are changing the narrative, one doll at a time.
Writing Competitions
Our writing competitions encourage and support emerging BIPOC writers of all ages to write children’s books. By providing opportunities for storytelling, we preserve the cultural history of the African Diaspora.
Our global reach in Ghana
STEAM Academy
We are building a STEAM Academy in Ghana. STEAM combines science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math to support the leadership development of our youth. Students gain valuable critical thinking, innovation, and analytical skills.
Youth Leadership Summit
PPGJLI hosts an annual leadership summit at the Senchi Ferry Library in Ghana. We provide practical leadership development training, career coaching, and mentorship.
Leaders are Readers
We are committed to creating new pipelines to success by improving literacy rates and inspiring the next generation of Ghanaian leaders. This program also works to address the systemic inequities associated with illiteracy.