PPGJLI's Leaders are Readers Program Wins Silver in Anthem Awards Contest

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Feb. 18, 2022 - PRLog -- Planting People Growing Justice™ Leadership Institute (PPGJLI) announced today that it has been named the Best Local Community Engagement in the Education, Art & Culture category in the inaugural Anthem Awards Social Impact Celebration.

Anthem Award winners are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Members include actor, producer and activist, Daniel Dae Kim; author, actor and social justice humanitarian, Ashley Judd; Mozilla CEO and chairwoman, Mitchell Baker; Ad Council president and CEO, Lisa Sherman; GLAAD president and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis; OW Management chief investment officer, Renata Erlikhman; The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation director, Shayla Tait; XQ Institute CEO and founder, Russlynn Ali; XQ chief commercial officer and board member, Marc Ecko; Ad Council chief campaign development officer, Heidi Arthur; and New Ventures chair, chief executive officer, and former U.S. Secretary of Labor, Alexis M. Herman.

The Leaders are Readers entry is an arts education initiative of the PPGJLI. Founded by civil rights lawyer, Dr. Artika Tyner, most of her clients learned how to read while in prison. The non-profit organization taps into the literary arts to combat mass incarceration.

"It is our distinct honor to recognize the work that brands, organizations and individuals are all making to create an impact in their community," said Jessica Lauretti, Managing Director, The Anthem Awards. "We launched this platform to show the world that all corners of our culture, from sports and entertainment to business leaders and celebrities, are all standing up to say it is time for systemic change and that social good is what we value as a society."

"We are extremely honored to be recognized for our Leaders are Readers program," said PPGJLI founder, Dr. Artika Tyner. "Literacy is essential and through our programs, we're promoting literacy, planting the seeds of social justice, and inspiring future leaders."

Winners for the inaugural Anthem Awards (https://www.anthemawards.com/) will be celebrated at the first annual Anthem Voices conference, followed by a star-studded virtual awards show on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Fans will be able to hear from social impact leaders during the day and then watch the show, featuring special moments and hallmark speeches from winners at www.anthemawards.com.

The Anthem Awards was launched in response to the prevalence social good has taken within the national conversation and cultural zeitgeist in recent years. The inaugural competition received nearly 2,500 entries from 36 countries worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. A portion of program revenue will fund a new grant program supporting emerging individuals and organizations working to advance the causes recognized in the inaugural Anthem Awards.