Cayden James, a sixth grader at Booker T. Washington K-8 School and three-sport athlete, has a list of Black athletes who inspire him: Jackie Robinson, Bo Jackson, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders.

He’s put together lessons about those athletes, which he’ll share with fellow Birmingham area students this week during Alabama Heroes and Changemakers, a two-part Black History Month program, on Feb. 26 and 28 from 4-5:30 pm at the Titusville Library.

Jamareé Collins, executive director of I Am Greatness, a nonprofit program helping Birmingham youth learn life skills through volunteer work and community workshops, said the program will feature Birmingham youth and community members who will teach lessons about Black historical changemakers and the history of Titusville.

“We have a lot of Birmingham history that we want to share. We want to take the road less traveled. Everyone knows about Martin Luther King, so we want to give you some names you don’t know, names that don’t get talked about in the history books,” Collins said.

“Titusville is one of the most historical neighborhoods in Birmingham. There’s so much history here. We just have to get young kids like [James] more involved in Black history and places like Titusville Library.”

James, who plays football, basketball and baseball, is working with Collins to include Black sports icons in the program.

“They really inspire me, being a running back, that’s why I’ve looked them up, to see what they did. They helped me improve a lot,” James said.

James began playing baseball and football when he was four years old and basketball when he was six.

“We want to make sure our youth are learning about their history. I want this program to teach them that there is so much more to Black history especially in Birmingham,” Collins said. “Black history happens everyday, it’s up to us as adults to make these kids understand that they are doing great things. We all need to step in to help change the narrative.”

Reba Williams, Titusville Library Branch manager, said the library will provide a safe space for attendees to learn about Black history.

“We have a ton of programs for Black history,” Williams said. “It’s important to reach children at a young age because in our culture, the sooner the better. We have to create that space and that’s what we do here at the library.”

The Titusville library also hosts monthly community, children and senior resource days where attendees are given groceries, sanitary products and clothing.

“We are working with the people in our community like I Am Greatness to make these things happen,” Williams said. “We want to create generational love, an African American historical love and just love for the library. We can provide that atmosphere through our programs and programs like this one.”