Josh Wilkerson named Citizen of the Year
Published 9:55 am Wednesday, June 11, 2025
- Josh Wilkerson receives his pin recognizing him being named a Paul Harris Fellows for being named Rotary Club Citizen of the Year. | Brent Maze, The Selma Times-Journal
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Joshua Wilkerson knows that Selma can be a special community.
While the community is known for its history, Wilkerson believes it is the people of Selma that make it such a special place. That is something that he tries to do as president of the Blackbelt Benefit Group.
“People continue to show up for each other,” Wilkerson said. “That’s Selma. That’s the Black Belt. We started the Blackbelt Benefit Group not about one person, but about a community to collaborate and do good and give back because we can. We show love for each other. That’s what Selma does.”
Josh Wilkerson, president of the Blackbelt Benefit Group is presented with the Citizen of the Year Award by Cindy Fisher, president of the Rotary Club of Selma.
The Rotary Club of Selma announced Monday that Wilkerson is the 2025 Rotary Club Citizen of the Year. With the honor, he received a plaque and was automatically a recipient of a Paul Harris Fellows, which is one of the highest distinctions in the Rotary organizations.
Cindy Fisher, president of the club, said that Wilkerson is a part of an organization that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to give to other nonprofits and other organizations and donated thousands of hours of community service to improve the quality of life in Selma.
The Blackbelt Benefit Group not only does these fundraisers, but they also host a number of events that feature music, arts and food that brings the community together.
“So we determined that this year’s citizen of the year embodies this important quality,” Fisher said.
Wilkerson was presented the award in front of the Rotarians along with members of the Blackbelt Benefit Group and his family.
“I can’t thank y’all enough for the honors, but y’all are part of it,” Wilkerson said. “So, I share this honor with all of you, everybody who’s ever come and lifted a hand and volunteered, encouraged us. It made a difference.
Paul Wilkerson said Josh is the reason why all of the events are successful.
“We would look like a bunch of buffoons if it wasn’t for Josh behind the scenes making sure we had the licenses, signs, orchestrated it and organized it,” Paul said. “He makes all of our events look like we really know what we’re doing.”
Josh said it was an honor to receive the award.
Josh Wilkerson gives his acceptance speech.
