Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons’ office backed two county grants totaling $25,000 for Finding Me Academy Global, a local nonprofit, despite her acknowledging she didn’t know what the program was about. The grants, $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2025, were intended to support the nonprofit’s after-school and summer programs for Tarrant County students in grades 3-12.

Grant Details

The 2024 grant materials described Finding Me Academy Global as an after-school and summer program for Tarrant County students in grades 3-12. The county agreement said the organization would provide classes on financial planning, public speaking, effective communication, and other life skills. The Commissioners Court approved the $15,000 agreement on May 7, 2024.

The 2025 grant packet described a Conflict Resolution, Life Skills, and Workforce Development Program expected to serve approximately 160 Tarrant County students in grades 3-12. The program was to include academic and life-skills instruction, college and career readiness workshops, workplace preparation, interpersonal communication, public speaking, financial literacy, and personal development.

Transcript Reveals Lack of Knowledge

A transcript of a conversation between Simmons and a former Tarrant County employee, Gabriel Rivas IV, reveals that Simmons acknowledged she didn’t know what the program was about. Rivas mentioned that the nonprofit’s founder, Darmetreis Kilgore, wanted Simmons to attend another one of his events, and Simmons replied, ‘Yeah, me either,’ when Rivas said he didn’t know what Kilgore’s program was about.

Facebook posts reviewed by The Dallas Express document a public relationship between Simmons and Kilgore spanning more than two years. The posts do not establish what Simmons knew about the nonprofit’s day-to-day operations or program results.

Original reporting: WBAP News/Talk (Dallas-Fort Worth) — read the source article.