Page 3 - Altrusa SETCER Program Booklet 2021 (Final)

Keynote Speaker

Deborah Peoples was born and raised during a time of great change for
Fort Worth and America. Participating in the Civil Rights movement
and peacefully marching for justice inspired Deborah to fight for
what’s right at an early rage, and she'll continue that fight as Mayor of
Fort Worth.

Deborah’s course in her convictions led her to excel in school. She
went on to earn her Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Ad-
ministration from Texas Woman’s University. Deborah’s business
credentials make her stand out in this race.

A trailblazer in business, Deborah worked her way up at AT&T to
eventually become a Vice President in charge of growing revenue
across nearly half the country.

While working, Deborah started a family and deepened her relation-
ships in the church community. Compassion and conviction guided
Deborah’s relationship with her love ones and her faith.
After retiring from a three-decades career as a successful executive,
Deborah redoubled her commitment to positive change by serving as
Chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. During year tenure, the
county reached heights of voter registration and civic engagement.
This is an extraordinary moment in Fort Worth’s history. The public
health crisis has worsened long standing issues in our economic sys-
tem, our criminal justice system, and the very fabric of our polite soci-
ety. Deborah's lived experiences marching for justice, leading in busi-
ness, and bringing people of all backgrounds together fuel her historic
campaign to unite us into One Fort Worth.

Informative Speaker

• Alisa Simmons was born in Austin, Texas. Alisa L. Simmons is in her
third term as president of the Arlington Branch of the NAACP. She is
ardently committed to working to eliminate racial discrimination and
to ensuring the political, educational, social, and economic equality of
rights for the marginalized and disenfranchised in Arlington.

An engaged community volunteer, Simmons civic involvement is ex-
tensive. She has served on the City of Arlington Comprehensive Plan
Advisory Committee, former chair of the City of Arlington Library
Advisory Board, former member of the board of the Chisholm Trail
Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Parenting Center Board of
Directors. She was a longtime member of the YMCA of Arlington
Board of Directors and various Arlington ISD volunteer committees.
Simmons is also a graduate of Leadership Arlington.

In addition, she sits on the executive committee of the Texas State
Conference of NAACP.

Professionally, Simmons is owner of DJ’s Print and Promo, a promo-
tional products, printing & apparel distributorship; a company she ac-
quired after an 18-year public relations career as Marketing and Com-
munications manager for the Tarrant County 9-1-1 District.