Uncrowned Community Builders

Joyce Nixon was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and adopted by James and Edna Wilson. Her Mother ( Edna ), a former nurse is deceased and her father , just turned eight-one, retired from US Steel after thirty eight and one half years of service. Her brother Klettis Sloan is a police officer in Atlanta, Georgia. Her biological mother with whom she has had limited contact, Joan Green, remains estranged from Joyce. Her biological father, Ron Bassham is involved with local unions and politics. He is retired from military intelligence and is in the UAW Hall of Fame.

She attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and she has been a member of the Zion Baptist Church in McKeesport, Pennsylvania for 47 years. She is also a vocalist and works with Kenny Berry, of Taylor Made Jazz, and recently with Lance Diamond. Joyce often performs with the group Taylor Made Jazz at the Annual Tonawanda Canal Festival. She is also a model/spokesperson for Ralph Lauren, Inc., and is a Mistress of Ceremonies for the May Company Trend Shows. Joyce is never too busy to read and often reads a book a when she has time.

Fifty Women With a Vision is a community action group that Joyce has been an active member of since its inception. The primary goal of the all-volunteer group is to revitalize Jefferson Avenue on the East Side. It sponsors a neighborhood arts festival in the summer and is building an "art park."
Currently, Joyce is the Executive Director and CEO of National Inner Cities Youth Opportunities, Inc., NICYO. Joyce reminds us that, "I would not be here or have accomplished a thing without the support, guidance and patience of my creator, guardian angels, family and special friends. I do not stand here alone, the credit goes to all."

She has a busy family life. Joyce is wife and mother of three adult children, Charles (31), Damien (29), and Libran Dior (26). She is also stepmother to Jeff Nixon, Jr. (17) and Jena (19). She is also a proud grandmother of four of the cutest children that you have ever seen.

Over the past fifteen years Joyce, has with the help of her staff, fought for funding to implement many community programs that impacted New York State, Erie County and the City of Buffalo. Some of those programs include: The Randy Smith Basketball League; the Jeff Nixon Basketball League; the Ted Washington Unlimited Basketball League; the Buffalo Wings Track Program, the Erie County Weed & Seed Crime Prevention Program and others too numerous to mention

Joyce also serves the community through service to numerous community agencies including: Rotary Club of Buffalo/ International; Board of Directors of Women for Effective Change; 50 Women with a Vision; American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers; Executive officer for the Commission on the Status of Women and others too numerous to mention.

She has also received a number of awards for her community volunteerism including: Black Achiever in Industry 2000 awardee; Mrs. New York Peoples Choice and the WBLK, Radio Professional of the Month and others.