The Cookout Conference

2027 Theme: Express Yo'Self

Mission Statement

"The Cookout" Youth Conference aspires to create a safe space for middle and high school students in the San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange County, and Riverside counties to explore, inspire, and celebrate the San Gabriel Valley communities.

The Cookout ’27 Online Registration

The Draper Center for Community Partnerships and a student leadership team are excited to announce the 5th annual conference, The Cookout - Express Yo Self on February 6, 2027, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Conference is designed to inspire pride and excellence among middle and high school students through thought-provoking workshops, hands-on activities, and engaging conversations with current college students from the Claremont Colleges. Separate workshops are designed for students and parent/guardians.

This year’s conference theme is Express Yo' Self. We live in a world where our expressions are a reaction to the world around us, but what does it mean to express yourself without limits? What makes you, you? Is it fashion? Technology? Sports? Culture? Join us at our 5th annual conference, The Cookout - Express Yo' Self, where you can test out different ways to express yourself and learn how to make room for others to freely be themselves. If you just want to exercise different ways you can be yo self, or find new ways to express yo self this conference is for you!

Parents and students must register separately.

Please register: The Cookout ’27 Online Registration

The Cookout’ 26 Theme Breakdown

The Youth Conference is to teach, reflect, and learn from our youth in the surrounding areas near Pomona College. Last year, we focused on what it really means to talk about our community’s history. Below you will find a description of last years workshops.

A Hidden Chemistry

Facilitators: Eze Miguel Iheanacho ‘26 and Prof. Daniel J. O'Leary

Put on your gloves and goggles! For the first time in The Cookouts' history, we’ll be hosting Hidden Chemistry where we uncover the important contributions Black scientists have brought to our community and the science behind how they did it. We’ll talk about researchers like Percy Julian and Charles Drew whose work has driven progress and saved lives. Students will participate in a series of safe, at-home experiments where they’ll get to experience the joy of discovery and take one step closer to the lab.

A Community Dream

Facilitators: Oluwasemilore Osunkeye ‘28 and Carlineissa Jean Francois ‘27

For Everyone by Jason Reynolds encourages us to dream. Dream for us, read for our future, and Dream for our community. We will be diving into how our personal dreams connect to building and cultivating a community through the ability to have dreams. Get ready to dig deep and express yourself most joyfully to find our one dream.

Marvel Meets Movement 

Facilitators: Aminah Augustin ‘28 and Alexis Allen ‘29

The Marvel Meets Movement Workshop invites students of all ages to explore how history, debate, and community-building come together to spark social change. Using the Cookout ’26 theme “Community Can Cultivate Change” as our guide, students will connect Black historical leaders like Thurgood Marshall and Stokely Carmichael with the contrasting leadership styles of Marvel’s Iron Man and Captain America. Through age-appropriate activities ranging from “This or That” games for the younger students, to structured debates and conflict resolution exercises for middle and high schoolers. Participants will reflect on how different values, strategies, and approaches to leadership can work together. By the end of the workshop, students will leave with a deeper understanding of how they can transform their own ideas, beliefs, and values into action that strengthens community and drives positive change.