Overview: Turning literacy into community power
St. Paul-based publisher and bookstore Planting People Growing Justice received the 2026 Minnesota Twins Game Changer award, highlighting founder Dr. Artika R. Tyner's mission to build lifelong readers, leaders, and changemakers across the world.
In the fight to save America’s children from a growing reading crisis, one local Black-owned movement is turning literacy into real community power and the Minnesota Twins have taken notice.
The Twins have named Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore (PPGJ) a 2026 Minnesota Twins Game Changer. The award recognizes PPGJ’s initiative in getting books into the hands of young people, using literacy as a pathway to leadership through its “Leaders are Readers” program and publishing and sharing books with positive representation for children.
According to PPGJ, the grassroots initiative has donated 50,000 books and reached more than 12,000 children and families through author visits, workshops, and school events. Dr. Artika R. Tyner, the founder of the organization, said that its work is an urgent response to a broader national issue.
“Every child deserves access to books that spark curiosity, build confidence, and help them imagine what is possible,” she said. “This recognition strengthens our commitment to raising a generation of lifelong readers, leaders, and changemakers.”
PPGJ is working to expand nationally by building partnerships with schools, libraries, businesses and the community to strengthen childhood literacy. By bridging these networks, PPGJ aims to ensure every child sees themselves reflected in the literature they read.
“This recognition belongs to every child who has opened one of our books, every family that has read together, every educator who has encouraged a student, and every community partner who believes in the power of literacy,” Tyner said.
“Together, we can change the story of America’s reading crisis, one book, one reader, and one future leader at a time.”