ST. PAUL, Minn. – Jan. 23, 2021 – The children’s book, “Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire,” has been selected as the winner in the first annual Minnesota Author Project competition in the Communities Create category. The children’s book was co-written by Dr. Artika Tyner and Jacklyn Milton, and illustrated by Jeremy Norton.
“We’re extremely honored,” said Tyner. “Together, we’re all promoting literacy ad diversity in books.”
The competition and the Communities Create category is sponsored by the Minnesota Library Foundation in partnership with Library Journal, BiblioBoard Library, and MN Writes Reads. The Minnesota Author Project celebrates Minnesota organizations and communities that are producing written creative works. Winners were announced at the Minnesota Library Association Conference that was held virtually this year.
The winner of the competition receives a $1,000 cash award, is honored with a plaque, and receives professional printing of the book. The book will also be available throughout the state in the Indie Minnesota collection on BiblioBoard Library. The book was submitted under the auspices of Planting People Growing Justice™ Leadership Institute (https://www.ppgjli.org/) (PPGJLI).
Founded by Tyner, the PPGJLI seeks to plant the seeds of social change through education, training and community outreach. The PPGJLI focuses on building pipelines of success for K-12 students, promoting academic excellence, and unveiling each student’s limitless potential through books, educational offerings, and youth leadership summits. The PPGJLI will be partnering with local libraries for programming, book readings, and adding its books to their collections.
“We’re creating change through promoting literacy and diversity in books,” said Tyner. “Representation in books is essential if children are to be inspired as the next generation of leaders. Through Justice Makes a Difference (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urED4XavnPQ&feature=y…), we show them that they’re never too young to make a difference.”
The book is the story of Justice, an eight-year-old girl that learns from her grandmother the power of words, how they can harm or uplift, and how they can change the world. Justice discovers the contributions throughout history of Black men and women, how they became icons of justice, and worked to change the world.
Planting People Growing Justice
