PPGJLI Launches Writing for Social Change Competition and Writers Workshop Series

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Sept. 3, 2021 - PRLog -- Dr. Artika Tyner, founder of The Planting People Growing Justice™ Leadership Institute (PPGJLI), announced that the non-profit organization has launched a new writing competition. The contest is called Writing for Social Change and centers on children's books.

"This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund," said Tyner. "Our goal is to inspire, equip and train BIPOC adult literacy artists to use the arts as a strategic tool for community building and social change advocacy."

The Writing for Social Change competition is open to Minnesota residents of African-American heritage that are 18 years of age and over. Contest submissions must be for a children's book and be received by Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. The theme for the competition is Juneteenth and can be a fiction or non-fiction children's picture book of 300 words for readers age 4-8.

Entrants can submit their original manuscript for publication that focuses on equity and inclusion. The winner will receive a cash prize of $1,000, 10 copies of their published book, and will be honored during the annual PPGJLI (https://www.ppgjli.org/) community celebration. The winning manuscript will be selected by a community panel of judges.

In conjunction with the writing competition, PPGJLI will also offer four-part workshop series. The workshop will provide BIPOC artists with the tools to imagine and create culturally diverse children's books. During the series, authors will have the opportunity to learn about design and the special requirements for writing children's books from experienced literary artists. The special presenter will be Deborah Ahenkorah Osei-Agyekum, founder of the Golden Baobab.

The PPGJLI's new competition and writer's workshop grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council is a unique opportunity for those that want to be a part of social change. Members of the BIPOC community have a wealth of stories to tell and can be a powerful force for change through reflective representation and promoting literacy.