Alabama Native Jessica Sanders Inspires Young People to Discover Their Voice

Townsend Nissan proudly presents the 2026 Black History Makers of Alabama, a celebration of excellence, impact, and legacy.  This special initiative is brought to you by Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa, 92.9 WTUG, Praise 93.3, 105.1 The Block, and The Tuscaloosa Thread, alongside our valued community partners, the Tuscaloosa Branch of the NAACP and the Tuscaloosa County–West Alabama Chapter of the NPHC, united in honoring the individuals who shape our community and inspire the next generation.

I Dream Big Charter School (IDB) proudly highlights the dedication of its aspiring journalists through this article, authored by 6th grader Melody Hood. This piece stems from a collaboration between Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa and The Dream Collective Media & Journalism Club at IDB, showcasing the skill and talent of our Dreamers.

2026 Black History Maker of Alabama – Jessica D. Sanders

Jessica D. Sanders is a native of Wilcox County in Alabama’s Black Belt region. She resided in Huntsville, Alabama, for 17 years after graduating from Alabama A&M University with a degree in Education.  She taught for six years and later returned to pursue a degree in publishing. She relocated to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, after marriage and currently serves as the Chief of Operations for I Dream Big Charter School, located on the historic campus of Stillman College, the first HBCU/Charter School partnership in the State of Alabama.

She began reading at just three years old and quickly developed a deep love of books, dreaming of becoming an author. Today, she is making a powerful impact in West Alabama by helping middle school students become published authors as the founder of the Young Authors Initiative (YAI).

Sanders works with students in grades 6–8 to guide them through the process of writing, editing, and publishing their own books. Her mission is to help young people discover their voices and believe in their potential.

The idea for the Young Authors Initiative (YAI) came from her love of reading and writing. Still, it became deeply personal during a book signing when a parent shared that her child sometimes did not have shoes and had gone without food the night before, explaining that Sanders had given her child an opportunity she could never afford to provide on her own. The tears and heartfelt gratitude the mother expressed reminded her that her work was about more than writing; it was about dignity, access, and hope, because students realize their stories matter and that their circumstances do not define their future.

When asked what Black History means to her, she thinks beyond famous leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. She thinks of her grandfather, who played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement by ensuring that participants had a safe place to stay and could eat and sleep in peace. She also remembers his cousin, who marched alongside Dr. King.

She honors local history-makers, too, including Dr. Angela Lang and Dr. Lucretia Prince, both from Tuscaloosa, who have made history through their leadership at I Dream Big Charter School. To her, Black History is not just something in a textbook; it is living, breathing, and happening right here at home, and she is a part of that history. Through the Young Authors Initiative, Sanders is not just publishing books; she is publishing hope and making DREAMS come true!

Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa thanks Townsend Nissan for supporting our yearly Black History Makers of Alabama spotlight. Be sure to visit them at 2620 Skyland E Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405.

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