By Sym Posey | The BirminghamTimes
On a quiet block near Memorial Park in North Titusville, a new kind of community hub is taking shape — built not by a nonprofit executive or longtime philanthropist, but by a college football player who simply believes everyone deserves a chance.
Inside the former Modern House Coffee House at 422 Sixth Avenue South, Jourdin Crawford, a defensive lineman for the Auburn Tigers football team and former standout at A.H. Parker High School, has opened The Greedy House, a community resource center funded largely through his NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) earnings.
Crawford isn’t known for long speeches. In fact, he admits he’s “not really a big talker.” But what he lacks in words, he more than makes up for with action.
“Everybody should have the same thing, or something close to what I have,” Crawford said about his motivation to give back.
Though Crawford is still early in his college football career, his commitment to community service began before he even left Birmingham.
“His senior year is when he first started giving back,” his mother, Patsy Crawford, said. “He did a shadow program with younger kids so they could go through the recruiting process and understand what that looks like.”
From there, the efforts kept growing — from book giveaways to community events — eventually leading to the creation of The Greedy House.
Now, the new center aims to serve as both a resource hub and a welcoming space for neighbors.
The Greedy House operates as a free community workspace and gathering place — a place where residents can meet, study, apply for jobs or simply connect.
“Basically, it’s a headquarters and a community hub,” Patsy Crawford said. “You can come and work there, have small meetings or classes — and you don’t have to purchase anything.”
The center already includes a public computer station with printing access where residents can complete job applications, homework or research.
“We’re just trying to find other ways to pour into the community and fill some gaps,” she said.
There’s also a community pantry stocked with emergency meal kits, hygiene items and other essentials.
Crawford has even invested in improving the property itself — installing fencing and safety upgrades to make sure neighborhood children can safely use the space and surrounding yard.
“He wants it to be somewhere kids can come and feel safe,” his mother said.
The center also plans to host regular workshops and community events each month.
“We’ll have somewhere between three and five small workshops or community events every month,” Patsy Crawford said.
Programs may include small-business pop-up clinics, job application assistance and mental health discussions.
One upcoming event — called “Mind Over Pressure” — will focus on mental health conversations with athletes and community members.
The Greedy House is accepting community donations.
Drop-offs are welcomed on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Needed items include:
- Non-perishable food items
- Hygiene products
- School supplies
- New or clean, gently used clothing
Smaller after-hours donations can be placed in a secured drop box on the front porch. Crawford asks donors to send a message through Instagram before arriving.
Giving back feels right
For Crawford, the work isn’t about publicity. In fact, his mother jokes that he’d prefer to stay out of the spotlight entirely.
“He doesn’t like to talk,” she said with a laugh.
But the Auburn lineman says the opportunity to give back to Birmingham — especially to neighborhoods like the one he grew up in — means everything.
“I feel great,” Crawford said. “Just looking out for the communities… even the surrounding communities, the adults and the kids that’s around.”
As the Greedy House begins to open its doors to neighbors, volunteers and donations, Crawford hopes the impact will extend far beyond the walls of the small building near Memorial Park.
Learn more about The Greedy House at wakeupgreedy.com.
