3 Creative Ways to Ignite Leadership Through Reading and Writing
Everyone has a leader within, and Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute has a mission to help people of all ages realize that. When people view themselves as leaders, they feel able to handle the challenges that come their way and pursue their dreams. Let’s explore 3 fun and creative ways that reading and writing ignite leadership and inspire the leader within.
1. Read Together
Leadership skills: communication, critical thinking, and empathy
Time and attention make a difference.
Reading together encourages meaningful discussion, develops character, and creates lasting memories. With each book read, vocabulary and comprehension increase.
Whether at home, at school, or in a library, bringing people together in positive ways helps foster emotional well-being.
When choosing what to read with children, consider including books that create both mirrors and windows. Mirrors are books with characters and cultures they can relate to or are like their own. These books will help validate their lives, expand their possibilities, and inspire their dreams. Windows are books with characters and cultures that are different from their own. These books will help them see others more clearly, embrace cultural differences, and build cultural bridges.
Windows are books with characters and cultures that are different from their own. These books will help them see others more clearly, embrace cultural difference, and build cultural bridges.
2. Write Your Story
Leadership skills: confidence, creativity, and self-awareness
Everyone has a story to tell.
By sharing a story in written form, ordinary people can have an extraordinary impact. Combining short stories in the form of an anthology can be an effective way to encourage new writers.
The ability to imagine and write your story brings opportunities to learn new skills and overcome challenges.
Those who experience art and humanities opportunities demonstrate improved reading, verbal, math, and problem-solving skills, which are central components of leadership. Writing can also be a vehicle for leading change and provides a safe place to share about trauma and pain while finding peace and healing.
3. Frequent Independent Bookstores
Leadership skills: community engagement, social awareness, and innovation
Independent bookstores uplift their communities.
Many of them, like PPGJ Press & Bookstore, featured in USA Today, support cultural awareness, contribute to charitable events, and highlight local authors and artists.
They often provide opportunities to experience community and learn firsthand the power of reading and writing to drive social change.
Independent bookstores like PPGJ Press & Bookstore, the only Black-led bookstore, publishing house, and literacy nonprofit in the nation, are radically transforming their communities by showcasing the rich cultural history of the people who live there. By promoting books written by Black authors and featuring Black characters, the bookstore is planting seeds of social change and creating new possibilities for its community.
Ignite a Leader Through Reading and Writing Today!
Join Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute’s Difference Makers Circle.
Your monthly donation will support the non-profit’s leadership programming, which includes book giveaways, literacy programs, and writing workshops designed to inspire a love of reading in children.
Buy a book from PPGJ Press & Bookstore.
For every book you buy from the PPGJ collection, a book will be donated to a child. 61% of low-income families have no books in their homes for their children.
Subscribe to Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute’s Reading Circle
This is a YouTube collection of Black author virtual read-alouds to support daily reading habits and encourage a joy for reading. Questions are included at the end to encourage meaningful discussions.
Dr. Artika Tyner, founder of the nation's only Black-led bookstore, publishing house, and literacy nonprofit, is creating social change and community-building by igniting leadership within people of all ages and is committed to inspiring and equipping 10,000 leaders through reading and writing. You can learn more and get involved by visiting www.ppgjli.org.