In October, the leadership of the Birmingham Kiwanis club was transferred from one Blackburn community member to another. Andrew Nix, Blackburn Fellow (Class of 2001), passed the gavel to Blackburn Society and Advisory Board Member John Saxon. This transition illustrates how Blackburn‑affiliated leaders shape the direction and impact of their community and civic organizations.
Reflecting on his year of leadership, Andrew Nix shared: “I’m most proud of how consistently our members showed up for one another and for the community. From the very beginning, we focused on what Kiwanis does best—bringing together leaders from across Birmingham, having thoughtful conversations about our city, and investing in programs that make a real difference for young people.
“Meaningful change happens when leaders focus less on themselves and more on helping others succeed.”
Andrew Nix
“We challenged ourselves to honor our history while also positioning the club for the future, and that balance showed up in tangible ways—stronger engagement, excellent programming, and continued momentum behind initiatives like Kiwanis Reads, Youth of the Year, and the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame.”
These initiatives will continue to be a central focus for John Saxon as he continues to lead the club. Kiwanis Reads has a particularly salient impact. Members visit elementary classrooms, read with students, and send each child home with a copy of the book. “The kids love having someone from the community come in,” Saxon says. This gives teachers a brief break, helps students improve their literacy, and forms connections with the community. Indeed, Andrew Nix accepted the Kiwanis International 2025 Signature Project award for the Birmingham Kiwanis Reads project during his term.
For Saxon, Kiwanis has been a throughline since high school. He first encountered the “K‑family” in Key Club, stayed active in Circle K at the University of Alabama, and has been a Birmingham Kiwanian since the 1990s. “My theme this year is Kiwanis: the service we provide, and the friends we make.”
Saxon has implemented weekly traditions all designed to keep members connected and energized while continuing the tradition of engaging speakers and service opportunities.
Both leaders observe a strong connection between civic engagement and service-orientation and organizations like the Blackburn Institute. Nix shares, “Service organizations thrive because people are willing to invest their time, energy, and talents for a shared purpose. If you stay focused on creating space for others to contribute, the impact will follow.”
The Kiwanis Club of Birmingham recently welcomed Taylor DiCicco as the youngest member of the Club. Taylor is a Blackburn Fellow (Class of 2021) and served as the 2024 – 2025 President of Circle K International.
Many Blackburn Fellows join organizations that help them “pay their civic rent,” as Saxon describes. Indeed, Saxon noted “Blackburn Fellows who are members of Kiwanis are among the more active members. They’re involved, they work on committees, and they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty with leadership.”
The Birmingham Kiwanis Club looks forward to their years ahead. “Our club is healthy, growing, and respected. We’re here to serve—and to welcome new leaders into that work,” says Saxon.