Join us for our annual Black Alumni Network gathering!
This year’s event will feature a Black historical experience dinner, exploring American history through recipes and dishes crafted by enslaved chefs. Chef Martin Draluck, founder of the Black Pot Supper Club and featured on the first season of Netflix’s High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America, will curate the menu and lead the evening.
This event is open to alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University.
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BLACK ALUMNI NETWORK MIXER AND DINNER
Thursday, February 20, 2025
6 to 8 p.m.
Golden Eagle Ballrooms
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
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Advance registration is required.
Please register by February 17.
Help us build a stronger alumni network. Commit to excellence. Engage in community.
Welcome, Cal State LA Alumni Family,
We are thrilled to have you join us on February 20 as we celebrate our legacy of innovators, dreamers, and achievers. This gathering honors the resilience, excellence, and joy that define those who came before us and inspire those who will follow in our footsteps.
The importance of community has always been and will continue to be one of the most vital foundations for both students and alumni. Whether you’re here to reconnect, build new relationships, or simply celebrate, this event is a reminder of how our shared connections can shape our journeys—not just today but for years to come.
As the new chair and co-chair, we are excited to welcome everyone and look forward to continuing to build a strong and thriving Black Alumni Network.
Nene Ogbechie (’21), Chair
J.T. Chestnut (’23), Co-Chair
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Chef Martin Draluck’s interest in food began as a child at his grandfather’s restaurant, Dem Bones Bar-B-Q, located on the city's west side. His love for food and history came together to create Hemings & Hercules, a dinner series inspired by two of America’s first celebrity chefs, James Hemmings and Hercules Posey, who were enslaved by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, respectively.
In 2021, Martin established the Black Pot Supper Club, an experiential dinner series that delves into the untold stories of America’s Black culinary influences, bringing American culinary history to life for audiences nationwide.