It was 10 years ago on this day (2016), the 'First Steps Cookout' took place in the northeast part of Wichita, garnering national attention.
The Sunday evening gathering came following a racially-charged week for activists and law enforcement in the community, as well as nationwide.
The event in McAdams Park near 13th Street & the Canal Route drew a crowd of nearly 1,000 people.
A large crowd gathered in the park, enjoying free food and the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with law enforcement.
"Very good vibe. Very good vibe. It's everything I was hoping for," says Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay.
The barbecue was held instead of a planned protest for Sunday night.
First Steps Cookout
Wichita Police Department
Chief Ramsay suggested the event to community leaders following a 'Black Lives Matter' protest in the city last week.
Chief Ramsay had said the barbecue was an opportunity for citizens and police to be introduced, and to have positive interaction. Nearly 400 people pledged to attend with an RSVP, and more than double that amount of people showed up.
Leading up to the barbecue, there was plenty of positive support on social media in response to the event, responding to unrest going on across the country.
The Wichita Police Department brought the burgers, grilling and serving food; many others also brought food.
The turnout was especially encouraging for some following the events that unfolded earlier in the day in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where three officers were fatally shot by a gunman.
Residents and officers say the barbecue was a concrete step toward bridging the gap between people and police.
Part of the event included a 'Question-and-Answer' session with Chief Ramsay, and some people took the opportunity to voice frustrations.
Five days earlier, demonstrators at a 'Black Lives Matter' event on 13th Street engaged in protests face-to-face with the Kansas Highway Patrol, as troopers kept the crowd from accessing the highway; that protest led to the barbecue just a few days later.
The successful results of the cookout even earned Chief Ramsay an invitation to the White House by the Obama administration.
Wichita/First Steps Cookout
Wichita Police Department
