Chakira’s Cookout brings families, neighbors and community partners together for an afternoon of fun, connection and discovery. This STEAM-themed celebration invites young people to explore science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics through engaging activities and hands-on experiences.

Relive some of the day’s best moments by watching the event recap and browsing the photo gallery below.

Chakira’s Cookout event banner displayed outdoors, featuring the event name and information about back-to-school resources, interactive learning stations, health and wellness services, food, parks and music. DeKalb County public safety vehicles are p
Exterior of the East Central DeKalb Community & Senior Center, site of Chakira’s Cookout, with event tables and tents visible near the entrance.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson, wearing a light gray polo, poses outdoors with seven Chakira’s Cookout volunteers, wearing branded yellow Chakira's Cookout Volunteer T-shirts.
Several of Chakira’s Cookout volunteers, wearing branded yellow event Volunteer t-shirts.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson, wearing a light gray polo, poses outdoors with a large group of volunteers, most wearing branded yellow Chakira’s Cookout Volunteer t-shirts.
Volunteers gather in the event control room, surrounded by boxes, teal event branded bags and stacks of yellow event Volunteer shirts as they organize supplies before Chakira’s Cookout.
Chakira’s Cookout attendees and volunteers gather near Michey’s Italian Ice food trailer, with several volunteers wearing bright yellow event shirts as guests wait to be served.
Four children smile and hold up cups of Italian ice while standing near Michey’s Italian Ice food trailer during Chakira’s Cookout.
Two children operate small robotic dogs during an interactive robotics activity at Chakira’s Cookout, while other children and volunteers participate nearby.
Close-up of a child seated and using a handheld remote control to operate one of the robotic dogs during Chakira’s Cookout.
Two small wheeled robots move across the floor during an interactive robotics activity at Chakira’s Cookout.
Volunteers form an assembly line to prepare hamburgers and hot dogs for grab-and-go meal bags for guests at Chakira’s Cookout.
Event attendees receive food and drinks from volunteers at an outdoor refreshment station during Chakira’s Cookout.
Close-up of a DJ using a laptop and mixing equipment to provide music during Chakira’s Cookout.
Two DJs manage music and sound equipment outside the East Central DeKalb Community & Senior Center during Chakira’s Cookout.
Inside a mobile gaming bus at Chakira’s Cookout, multiple screens and video game consoles are set up for children to play.
Young attendee holds a video game controller while playing inside the mobile gaming bus at Chakira’s Cookout.
Captain Barrington Irving, an event attendee, Presiding Officer Commissioner Chakira Johnson, and DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court Debra DeBerry pose together during Chakira’s Cookout.
A BITTS instructor guides an attendee through a hands-on building activity using tools and materials at a workstation during Chakira’s Cookout.
A BITTS instructor demonstrates a hands-on building activity as an attendee watches closely at a tool-equipped workstation during Chakira’s Cookout.
Young attendee smiles and waves at the camera while seated beside a laptop and two small robots during a hands-on robotics activity at Chakira’s Cookout.
Young attendee listens to instructions at a tool-equipped workstation during a hands-on building activity led by BITTS at Chakira’s Cookout.
Chakira’s Cookout volunteer uses a cordless drill at a tool-equipped workstation during a hands-on building activity led by BITTS.
Children participate in a hands-on building activity with guidance from BITTS instructors and Chakira’s Cookout volunteers at a workstation filled with tools and materials.
A BITTS instructor assists a young attendee with a hands-on building project as another adult looks on during Chakira’s Cookout.
Young attendee concentrates on a hands-on building project using a bench vise while a BITTS instructor and other participants look on during Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson talks with a group beside tool-equipped activity tables while participants work at STEAM stations in the background.
Aviation pioneer and Flying Classroom founder Captain Barrington Irving works at a hands-on engineering station equipped with vises and tools while attendees gather nearby.
A child wearing safety gloves watches an instructor demonstrate a tool at a Flying Classroom activity station as family members and volunteers gather around.
Two young participants wearing work gloves use drills and hand tools at a Flying Classroom workbench while Commissioner Chakira Johnson and volunteers look on.
Chakira’s Cookout volunteers and Flying Classroom instructors assist a participant wearing protective eyewear and hearing protection at a tool-filled workbench.
Two children explore drills and hand tools at a Flying Classroom workbench with guidance from family members and volunteers.
A Flying Classroom instructor guides a young girl wearing work gloves as she uses a power drill on a small metal piece secured in a table vise.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson, wearing work gloves, uses a hand tool on a metal piece secured in a table vise while a volunteer watches.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson, wearing work gloves, strikes a metal punch with a red mallet while a volunteer steadies the project.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson speaks with an attendee using a mobility scooter during Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson smiles and chats with a couple of attendees during Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson speaks with an attendee using a mobility scooter as other guests mingle nearby at Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson poses for a photo with a DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs staff member at Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson poses with the event DJs and a representative from Kids Next Code during Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson poses with two Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority staff members at Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson poses with an American Red Cross representative beside the organization’s information display at Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson poses with two DeKalb County Police officers at Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson poses with two representatives from Michey’s Italian Ice at Chakira’s Cookout.
From left, a DeKalb County Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs representative, Commissioner Chakira Johnson and Builders Tech CEO and District 4 board appointee Taha Addow pose together.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson and Captain Barrington Irving pose with five young participants inside the Flying Classroom activity room, with workstations visible behind them.
DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Director Christopher Bass and Commissioner Chakira Johnson smile for a photo at Chakira’s Cookout.
Kids Next Code Founder and Director Travis Reeves and Commissioner Chakira Johnson smile and pose side by side outdoors at Chakira’s Cookout.
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Frankie Atwater and Commissioner Chakira Johnson smile for a photo outdoors at Chakira’s Cookout.
Commissioner Chakira Johnson poses indoors with a smiling young attendee wearing a blue jersey and a woman wearing a white dress.
Illustrated version of Commissioner Chakira Johnson wearing a yellow hard hat and holding a “DeKalb County District 4” sign while standing on a beam that reads, “Engineering Progress for DeKalb.”

Help Power Full STEAM Ahead

District 4 invites individuals, businesses and organizations interested in supporting future Full STEAM Ahead events and STEAM programming to connect with us. Whether through sponsorships, volunteer support, in-kind donations, mentorship or other resources, your involvement can help bring engaging, hands-on learning experiences to DeKalb scholars. Complete the interest form to explore opportunities to participate and stay informed about future initiatives.