This summer, STARR Community Services International took its STEAM Into the Future programming on the road, hosting a Summer Park Tour across 12 parks throughout Chicago in partnership with the Chicago Park District. From Auburn Gresham to neighborhoods across the South and West Sides, families gathered for a season of hands-on robotics, astronomy, performing arts, and agriculture activities, all delivered at no cost.

By the close of the tour, STARR had reached more than 1,000 youth and their families, many of them experiencing hands-on STEAM programming in their own neighborhood park for the very first time. Young people built and programmed robots, looked through telescopes, took the stage as STARR Agents, and got their hands in the soil through agriculture activities, all just steps from home.

The Summer Park Tour reflects a core STARR belief: STEAM opportunity should not be limited by zip code. By meeting families where they already gather, in the parks that anchor their communities, STARR removed the transportation and access barriers that too often keep young people from hands-on enrichment.

Thank you to the Chicago Park District and every family, volunteer, and community partner who made this summer possible. Photos from the tour will be added to this recap soon.

Registration is now open for STARR Community Services International’s no-cost STEAM Into the Future Fall Program! This fall, our program is dedicated to Robotics, Astronomy, and Career Exploration, providing youth ages 5–18 with hands-on experiences that prepare them for the careers of tomorrow.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Design, build, and code robots through FIRST LEGO League Robotics
• Explore the universe through our Astronomy & Astrophysics Program, in partnership with the University of Chicago Astronomy & Astrophysics Department
• Discover exciting STEAM careers through guest speakers, career exploration activities, and hands-on learning
• Build leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Join a supportive community of future innovators, creators, scientists, engineers, and leaders

Whether your child is just beginning their STEAM journey or returning as a STARR Agent, our Fall Session is designed to ignite curiosity, build confidence, and inspire success.

Register today; space is limited.

Together, let’s prepare the next generation to STEAM Into the Future.

Join STARR Community Services International for our signature annual community celebration, STEAM-A-GANZA! Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Foster Park (1440 W. 84th Street).

This no-cost, family-friendly event brings together youth, families, educators, community organizations, and STEAM professionals for an afternoon of innovation, celebration, and fun.

STEAM-A-GANZA serves as STARR’s official FIRST LEGO League Robotics Pep Rally, where we celebrate and encourage our robotics teams as they prepare for the upcoming competition season. It is also one of our most meaningful traditions, recognizing the hard work and accomplishments of our STARR Agents.

During this special event, we will:

• Celebrate the achievements of our STARR Agents
• Promote youth to the next STARR Leadership Rank
• Officially recognize our newest STARR Agents
• Kick off the FIRST LEGO League Robotics season
• Bring together the community to celebrate learning, leadership, and opportunity

Enjoy an afternoon filled with:

• Live robot demonstrations
• Astronomy activities
• Hands-on STEAM experiences
• Interactive games
• Raffles and prizes
• Live entertainment
• Food
• A bounce house
• Community resources and vendors
• Fun activities for the entire family

Whether you’re a returning STARR family or joining us for the first time, STEAM-A-GANZA is the perfect opportunity to experience everything STARR has to offer while celebrating the next generation of innovators, leaders, and changemakers.

We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of your child’s educational journey, and we look forward to another incredible year of exposing, empowering, and elevating young people through STEAM.

STARR Community Services International has been preparing youth to get jobs that have the potential to raise household incomes since it began in 2020.

Katrina Adams is Executive Director of STARR Community Services International, Inc. Adams served for AmeriCorps and it is where she became interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). She is dedicated to positioning herself to really help her community get prepared for the future.

Adams said STARR Community Services was founded because there was a lack of affordable STEAM and STEM programs in underserved communities. The organization provides out of school programs for students beginning in pre-kindergarten. With STEAM into the Future, students learn how to code through a robotics program. The students also engage in the performing arts and learn effective communication.

“We’re just all about exposure. That exposure really can take you to places, it’ll really open up your horizons and help you see things that you may not normally see in your community.”

Katrina Adams, Executive Director, STARR Community Services International

STARR Community Services also has an astronomy program where students learn about astronomy and astrophysics, which is a partnership between the organization and the University of Chicago. The students attend lectures from astronomers and astrophysicists and are able to look through telescopes.

STARR Community Services’ STEAM-A-GANZA event engages the community and honors the agents — the students — who participate in the program by showcasing their accomplishments. During that event, STARR also informs the community about the importance of STEAM.

STARR Community Services also has robotics teams in Lagos, Nigeria. The organization is looking for volunteers. For more information, visit starrcs.org or email info@starrcs.org.

Article by Tia Carol Jones, originally published April 30, 2025 in The Citizen Newspaper Group.