From Fighting Fires to Igniting the Community, Westbrook is a Blazing Force of Change

By: Sylvia Powers
Correspondent
Texas Metro News

Some may know her as a fire investigator by day and a concert promoter by night, but the community knows Simmeana “Simmie” Westbrook simply as an agent of change.

“I’m always coming across people during a catastrophic time in their lives—something bad has happened. Whatever the situation, it allows me to be of assistance, to show compassion, and to help in any way I can,” said Westbrook.

Westbrook joined the Air Force right out of high school and served for 10 years before deciding to return to Dallas.

“Once I decided to come back to Dallas, I saw the fire department was hiring. It seemed simple at the time—I’d just try to get a job with them,” she recalled.

That decision turned into a lifelong career of public service. She worked as a fire prevention officer in the Dallas Fire-Rescue team and retired in 2021 as a section chief. She now works as a fire investigator for an engineering and forensic firm.

In 2015, her passion for public service expanded into community engagement after attending a poorly organized concert.

“I was standing in my bathroom after the event and said to myself, ‘I could do this better.’ I had no idea where to start, didn’t know who to bring, how to contact artists, or anything about the industry—but I knew I wanted to produce a concert,” said Westbrook.

Armed with only passion and vision, she hosted her first event—The Love Jones Experience—on May 14, 2016, at the The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL)- in the Bruton Theater, and featuring Musiq Soulchild and Lalah Hathaway.

“The event sold out. It was an amazing ride. I had no idea how I pulled it off, but it became the beginning of my promotion company—Poetic Visions,” she said.

Less than a year later she hosted another successful concert with Rachelle Ferrell, Avery Sunshine at Music Hall. It was at that point that she had thoughts  of broadening her horizons to produce a full-scale music festival.

“I’ve always loved outdoor events—that comes from my mom. She would take us to free outdoor concerts with James Brown, Chaka Khan, and all those amazing artists back in the day,” Westbrook said.

The idea of hosting her own festival wouldn’t leave her spirit. So she reached out to a promoter in California who was hosting a soul music festival in Los Angeles.

“I asked if I could shadow him. When he said yes, I grabbed my best friend, and we went to California. We worked the festival, and he showed me everything I needed to do,” said Westbrook.

The following summer, she hosted her first Jazz on the Trinity festival in Fort Worth.

“There’s only one word I have for Simmie Westbrook: inspiring. She doesn’t accept ‘no’ for an answer,” said Chris Howell. “I met Simmie during her first concert, The Love Jones Experience. She hired my communications company to do video and photography. It was successful, but I knew it wasn’t easy. I remember asking, ‘Who else is helping you pull this together?’ It was just her—and she was self-funded.”

Howell even recalls Westbrook showing up to his office in fire gears so that they could work out the final details for her concert.

That long-standing relationship made it easy for Westbrook to select the Chris Howell Foundation as the charitable recipient for this year’s Jazz on the Trinity festival.

“I wanted to honor his nonprofit through this show. His organization is doing a lot of work in the DFW area—feeding the homeless and making a difference in the community,” said Westbrook.

Howell noted that the donation comes at a critical time, following budget cuts that have impacted his organization.

For those who can’t quite connect the dots between the firefighter and concert promoter, the common thread for Westbrook is clear: service to the community.

“I think my two life passions intersect in helping the community. I’ve always wanted to serve the public. That’s where the concerts come in. I want people to forget everything else going on and just come together. Enjoy the outdoors, good food, good music, and one another—even if it’s just for a day,” she said.

As she works through the many moving parts of putting on a full-day festival—with food, drinks, and live entertainment—Westbrook doesn’t claim to know what’s next. But she does know how she’ll decide.

“I call them ‘Adventures with Jesus.’ Everything that’s happened in my life has been the next adventure. I’ve learned to move with faith and trust that God made me exactly as I am for this season. I don’t put God in a box, and that allows me to move freely and experience Him in everything I do,” she said.

Sylvia Powers is an award-winning author, accomplished writer, gifted photographer, and nationally recognized breast cancer advocate with a deep passion for empowering others.