STARR is led by a dedicated team of educators, advocates, and community leaders who believe every child deserves access to high-quality STEAM education. Our leadership brings together expertise in education, technology, nonprofit management, and community organizing to guide STARR’s growth and impact.
Executive Director & Founder
Katrina Adams is a visionary community leader, devoted wife, and proud mother of three daughters whose life's work centers on expanding opportunity and empowering underserved communities through STEAM education. As Founder and Executive Director of STARR Community Services International, she has spent more than 14 years building STEAM pathways, offered at no cost, that strengthen families and transform generations.
“My mission is to ensure that a family's income or zip code never determines a child's access to the tools, knowledge, and opportunities needed to expand their future, so that every young person has the chance to explore, innovate, and STEAM into the future.”
Katrina Adams is a visionary community leader, devoted wife, and proud mother of three daughters whose life's work centers on expanding opportunity and empowering underserved communities through STEAM education. As Founder and Executive Director of STARR Community Services International, she has spent more than 14 years building STEAM pathways, offered at no cost, that strengthen families and transform generations.
Katrina began her professional journey as an educator, dedicating seven years to nurturing young minds before serving four years as a FIRST Robotics AmeriCorps VISTA. In this role, she was instrumental in bringing FIRST LEGO League into Chicago Public Schools, introducing thousands of students to hands-on STEAM learning and establishing pathways that continue to inspire young innovators more than a decade later. This experience ultimately helped ignite her purpose-driven vision for STARR Community Services International.
Under her leadership, STARR launched its flagship STEAM Into the Future initiative, providing early STEAM exposure beginning at age five through robotics, coding, astronomy and astrophysics, performing arts, academic enrichment, leadership development, career exploration, and other hands-on learning experiences. STARR is home to one of Chicago's few community-based competitive FIRST LEGO League robotics programs and has pioneered astronomy programming for youth in an underserved South Side community. By eliminating program fees and bringing high-quality opportunities directly into neighborhoods, Katrina is helping ensure that a family's income or zip code does not determine a child's access to the skills and experiences shaping the future.
Katrina is also the visionary behind STARR's signature community initiatives. STEAM-A-GANZA is a multigenerational celebration that combines hands-on STEAM experiences, robotics, local talent, community resources, and family engagement to increase STEAM awareness and strengthen community connections. Culture Connection, created in partnership with the National University of Singapore, brings international cultural exchange directly to Chicago's South Side, connecting local youth with university students representing countries throughout Asia and expanding young people's understanding of the world beyond their immediate surroundings.
Her commitment to equity extends internationally: Katrina has helped establish and sustain robotics programs in four schools in Lagos, Nigeria, advancing her belief that every child deserves exposure to the tools, knowledge, and opportunities needed to participate in an increasingly technology-driven world. Beyond STARR, she is deeply engaged in education and community advocacy, having served in leadership roles with the Kids First Chicago Parent Advisory Board, the Chicago Public Schools Parent Advisory Council, the Foster Park Advisory Council, and as a Chicago Public Schools STEM Ambassador. Through STARR's Parent Leadership Team, she also works alongside families to advocate for resources, investments, and policies that strengthen communities and expand access to high-quality educational opportunities.
For more than 14 years, Katrina has remained committed to a simple but powerful belief: exposure creates possibilities, opportunity creates pathways, and investment in young people can transform generations. Beyond her professional work, she is a lifelong learner who enjoys nature, writing, performing arts, dancing, karaoke, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She hopes her life's work leaves a lasting legacy of opportunity, hope, economic mobility, and empowered generations who understand that they, too, deserve the opportunity to shine like a STARR.
Educational Leader | Program Director | Administrative Professional | STEAM Advocate
Taren Brown is a dedicated educational professional, community leader, and advocate for student success with more than 17 years of experience supporting schools, students, families, and educational programs. Her career reflects a commitment to academic excellence, organizational leadership, and creating opportunities that empower young people to reach their full potential.
“My mission is to empower students through education, innovation, and opportunity by closing academic gaps, fostering creativity, and preparing the next generation of leaders through STEAM learning, technology, and community engagement.”
Taren Brown is a dedicated educational professional, community leader, and advocate for student success with more than 17 years of experience supporting schools, students, families, and educational programs. Her career reflects a commitment to academic excellence, organizational leadership, and creating opportunities that empower young people to reach their full potential.
As a Building Secretary for Hazel Crest School District 152 1/2, Taren provides high-level administrative support to school leadership, manages daily operations, coordinates communications, and serves as a trusted resource for students, parents, and staff. Her strong organizational skills, professionalism, and ability to foster positive relationships have made her an invaluable member of the educational community.
In addition to her school district leadership role, Taren serves as the Program Director for STARR Community Services' STEAM Into the Future program. Through this innovative initiative, she leads efforts to close academic achievement gaps in reading and mathematics while preparing students for future careers through hands-on learning experiences in coding, robotics, and STEAM education. Her work focuses on equipping students with critical thinking, problem-solving, and technology skills that will enable them to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Taren's professional journey began as a Paraprofessional, where she spent 15 years supporting student learning, implementing educational plans, monitoring academic growth, and collaborating with educators and families. These experiences laid the foundation for her passion for educational equity, youth development, and community engagement.
With certifications in Administrative Assistance and Paraprofessional Studies from South Suburban College, Taren continues to champion programs that strengthen academic performance, inspire innovation, and create pathways for student success. Her vision is to build stronger communities by ensuring every child has access to quality educational support, technology-driven learning opportunities, and the resources needed to achieve their goals.
Board Member | Construction & Engineering Professional | STEM Advocate
Antoine Hale was born and raised in Chicago, with roots in the West Chatham neighborhood. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and has built a career across infrastructure and construction engineering, currently serving as Lead Documentation Engineer and Resident Engineer at EXP Engineering. A dedicated STEM advocate, Antoine has spent over a decade mentoring Chicago youth and building organizations that create pathways to opportunity.
“My mission is to empower our pupils through hands-on engagement, innovation, and automation, giving them space to set tangible goals among peers who share their interests. I am committed to STEAM programming at no cost, free from socioeconomic barriers.”
Antoine Hale was born and raised in Chicago, with roots in the West Chatham neighborhood. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and has built a career across infrastructure and construction engineering, currently serving as Lead Documentation Engineer and Resident Engineer at EXP Engineering. A dedicated STEM advocate, Antoine has spent over a decade mentoring Chicago youth and building organizations that create pathways to opportunity.
Antoine attended Thornwood High School, where he was a National Honor Society recipient all four years and graduated with a 3.86 GPA. He went on to study at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and Westwood College, earning Dean's List and President's List honors multiple times, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.
His career spans Infrastructure Engineering, Orbital Engineering, Lorig Construction, the Chicago Park District, John Burns Construction as a Project Manager, and Gonzalez Engineering, and he currently serves EXP Engineering as a Lead Documentation Engineer and Resident Engineer. He also sat on the Charitable Board at John Burns Construction. In 2012, Antoine left Orbital Engineering in Hammond, Indiana to give back to his city, joining the Chicago Park District, where he developed a passion for supporting inner city youth.
Antoine is a distinguished board member of Brotherhood/Sisterhood and STARR, and a longtime STEM advocate who previously partnered with Chicago Commons as a philanthropic donor. He was pivotal in launching The Gentlemen Chronicles and The Academic Draft, and in transitioning Brotherhood from an enrichment program into a 501(c)(3) organization. He has also served as a judge for the STEM Robotics Midwestern Conference competition.
Outside his engineering career, Antoine is co-owner and Chief Financial Officer of Personal Training by Dee, a group of boutique fitness studios. He is the father of a daughter, Kadence Hale, and gained guardianship of his eldest nephew at age 14 due to extenuating circumstances; that nephew went on to graduate high school as a National Honor Society awardee and is now 25, married, enrolled in college, and flourishing as a musician.
Secretary, Board of Directors
Eric Hersey is a Chicago native dedicated to expanding STEM access across the city through hands-on engineering education. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2023, with a focus in deep-space communication systems, and returned home to support the development of the next generation of engineers, leaders, and change-makers through STEM initiatives across Chicago.
“My mission is to expand what young people believe is possible for themselves by opening pathways into engineering, technology, and the trades, building confidence through hands-on STEAM learning, mentorship, and the belief that talent is everywhere, even when opportunity is not.”
Eric Hersey is a Chicago native dedicated to expanding STEM access across the city through hands-on engineering education. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2023, with a focus in deep-space communication systems, and returned home to support the development of the next generation of engineers, leaders, and change-makers through STEM initiatives across Chicago.
During his time at U-M, Eric was a member of the CubeSat Flight Laboratory, part of the Michigan Exploration Lab, where he contributed to the design, build, test, and launch of three small satellite missions and helped advance Radio Frequency technology used in aerospace applications. He was also a member of the National Society of Black Engineers and a founding member of Black Students in Aerospace, where he helped raise and manage more than $40,000 and organized conference trips for over 40 members to expand technical opportunities, mentorship, and professional development for underrepresented students.
He served as a lead student researcher in U-M's Mechanical Engineering department, studying bubble and fluid dynamics using MATLAB simulations, and published his findings in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America under the title "Dynamics of an Oscillating Microbubble in a Blood-like Carreau Fluid." He also completed internships at Rockwell Automation, GE Aerospace, and Lockheed Martin.
After graduating, Eric returned to Chicago as STEM Program Coordinator for the Peace Corner Youth Center in Austin, where he built weekly STEM classes, an autonomous drone team, and guest sessions with industry professionals from companies including Boeing, Raytheon, and Black & Veatch. He also contributed to U-M's CubeSat Development Program through Black Students in Aerospace, training students in industry-relevant aerospace skills.
Beginning in 2024, Eric served as a Technical Mentor through the University of New Hampshire on NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe mission, supporting a three-university collaboration to design and build a CubeSat that would launch into space to collect particles emitted from the Sun. The mission deployed on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on November 28, 2025.
In early 2025, Eric launched STEM Learning Labs, LLC, partnering with schools and nonprofit organizations to deliver technical STEM programming in afterschool settings, with custom curricula spanning Principles of Engineering, Space Technology with CubeSats, and Electrical Engineering. He currently runs sites in Austin, North Lawndale, and Bronzeville and supports Project Syncere and Bright Star Community Outreach in an official capacity.
STARR is always looking for passionate volunteers, mentors, and board members who share our commitment to educational equity on Chicago’s South Side.
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