MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Leaders Are Readers Event in Saint Paul to Promote Literacy, Leadership, and Youth Engagement Through Literature

Free community gathering will feature author Bianca Dawkins, a Juneteenth-themed read-aloud, book giveaways, and youth-focused literacy programming at the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center

ST. PAUL, Minn. (June 5, 2026) On Saturday morning, families from across the Twin Cities will gather inside a building that has long served as a cornerstone of community life in Saint Paul's historic Rondo neighborhood. Children will listen to stories. Parents will browse books. Community leaders will talk about literacy, leadership, and opportunity. And for two hours, a simple but powerful idea will take center stage: that reading can help shape the next generation of leaders.

The occasion is Leaders Are Readers, a free literacy event presented by the Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJLI) and scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the JK Movement/Jimmy Lee Recreation Center, located at 1063 Iglehart Avenue in Saint Paul.

According to organizers, the event is designed to encourage youth development through reading, storytelling, and interactive engagement while helping children build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and discover the connection between education and leadership.

Promotional materials describe the program as an opportunity to "unlock your child's growth through the power of literature," fostering leadership skills and a love of reading through storytelling and hands-on activities that encourage imagination and self-expression.

The event is free and open to the public and will include a guest read-aloud session, literacy-focused activities, complimentary books for youth, and opportunities for families to connect with educators, community leaders, and literacy advocates.

A Story About Freedom, Family, and History

A centerpiece of the event will be a special read-aloud presentation led by Bianca Dawkins, who serves as Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA's Minnesota Lynx.

Dawkins will read from Jaheem's First Juneteenth, a children's book written by Zephaniah Martin and illustrated by Bilal Karaca.

Published through Planting People Growing Justice Press, the book introduces young readers to the significance of Juneteenth through the experiences of a young boy learning about family traditions, community celebration, and the historical importance of freedom.

The timing is intentional.

The event takes place less than two weeks before Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth was formally recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, and communities across Minnesota have increasingly embraced educational programming designed to help young people understand both the historical significance of the day and its continuing relevance.

Organizers say literature provides one of the most effective pathways for introducing complex historical topics to children in age-appropriate ways.

By placing a culturally relevant book at the center of the event, they hope to help children connect reading with learning, identity, curiosity, and civic understanding.

Literacy as a Leadership Tool

While the event includes books, storytelling, and family activities, organizers emphasize that its broader purpose extends beyond literacy alone.

The underlying philosophy behind Leaders Are Readers is that reading and leadership development are deeply connected.

Research from educational organizations nationwide consistently demonstrates that early literacy proficiency is strongly associated with academic achievement, long-term educational success, and future economic opportunity. Children who develop strong reading skills early are more likely to succeed across academic disciplines, graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and engage actively in civic life.

Advocates argue that literacy is not simply about learning to read. It is about learning to think critically, communicate effectively, solve problems, understand diverse perspectives, and build confidence.

Those are many of the same skills commonly associated with leadership.

Through storytelling and interactive learning experiences, organizers hope children leave the event with more than a free book. They hope participants leave with a stronger sense of possibility.

The event's theme reflects a belief that future leaders are often developed long before they hold positions of authority. They are developed when curiosity is encouraged, when reading becomes a habit, and when young people see themselves reflected in the stories they encounter.

The Organization Behind the Event

The event is presented by Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, one of Minnesota's most visible literacy and leadership-focused nonprofit organizations.

Founded by educator, attorney, author, and leadership scholar Dr. Artika R. Tyner, PPGJLI describes its mission as planting seeds of social change through education, leadership development, literacy advocacy, and community engagement.

The organization has become nationally recognized for its work promoting diverse children's literature, supporting emerging authors, expanding access to books, and creating educational opportunities for young people and families.

Among its signature initiatives are community literacy campaigns, book distribution efforts, writing workshops, leadership development programs, and the organization's growing publishing division, which focuses on diverse and culturally affirming literature.

Over the past several years, PPGJLI has distributed thousands of books throughout Minnesota and beyond while partnering with schools, libraries, educators, community organizations, and local leaders to promote literacy as a foundation for educational success.

The organization's work is grounded in a simple but ambitious belief: that access to books can transform lives and that leadership begins with learning.

A Partnership Rooted in Community

The event also highlights the growing collaboration between PPGJLI and organizations working directly with youth throughout Saint Paul.

Among those partners is The JK Movement, a Black-founded and Black-led grassroots organization headquartered inside the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center.

Founded by Executive Director Johnny Allen Jr., The JK Movement serves young people from elementary school through early adulthood using what it describes as a healing-centered engagement model.

Rather than focusing solely on traditional youth programming, the organization works to address challenges associated with trauma, educational inequities, economic barriers, and community disconnection.

Its programming centers on three primary pillars: self-empowerment, career pathway development, and community engagement.

Youth participating in JK Movement programs are exposed to opportunities in STEM education, technology, coding, digital media, leadership development, mentorship, workforce preparation, and civic engagement.

The organization's approach has earned recognition throughout the Twin Cities for creating safe spaces where young people can develop confidence, build relationships, and discover pathways to future success.

For organizers, hosting Leaders Are Readers inside the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center represents a natural extension of that mission.

The Legacy of Jimmy Lee

The venue itself carries significant historical importance.

Named after the late Jimmy Lee, one of Saint Paul's most respected civil rights advocates and community leaders, the recreation center has long served as a gathering place for youth, families, educators, and neighborhood organizations.

Lee moved to Saint Paul from Mississippi as a teenager and became a widely admired civic leader, mentor, referee, youth advocate, and champion for community development.

His influence extended across generations and throughout Saint Paul's African American community.

Today, the center that bears his name continues to function as both a recreational facility and a community hub, hosting educational programs, cultural events, youth development initiatives, and neighborhood gatherings.

For many residents of the Rondo community, the building represents not only a physical space but also a continuation of Jimmy Lee's lifelong commitment to service, opportunity, and community empowerment.

More Than a Reading Event

Organizers say that perspective helps explain why Leaders Are Readers is about more than books.

The event seeks to create an environment where children see reading not as an obligation but as an opportunity.

It seeks to encourage parents to remain active participants in their children's educational journeys.

It seeks to connect families with community resources.

And it seeks to demonstrate that literacy remains one of the most powerful tools available for expanding opportunity and strengthening communities.

As children gather to hear stories and select books to take home, organizers hope they will also begin to recognize something larger: that reading can open doors to knowledge, confidence, leadership, and lifelong learning.

For a few hours on a Saturday morning in Saint Paul, that message will be delivered one page at a time.

Event Information

What: Leaders Are Readers Literacy Event

When: Saturday, June 6, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Where: JK Movement / Jimmy Lee Recreation Center
1063 Iglehart Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104

Cost: Free

Featured Guest: Bianca Dawkins

Featured Book: Jaheem's First Juneteenth by Zephaniah Martin, illustrated by Bilal Karaca

Activities: Guest read-aloud, literacy engagement activities, free book giveaway, community networking

For additional information about the event and ongoing literacy initiatives, visit Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute at www.ppgjli.org.

MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life.