In December 2025, Dr. Gerchow attended a book signing for her friend and colleague, Donté Clark—known in the arts community as DONBLAK. Dr. Gerchow first met Donté years earlier while they were working together on a case in Contra Costa County, and even then, his presence was unmistakable: grounded and visionary.
A native of Richmond, California, Donté stands as one of the most prolific writers and voices to emerge from the Bay Area arts scene. His latest work, We Cry Freedom, is a collection of poems that confront the wounds of systemic injustice while celebrating resilience, “moving like a meditation on freedom, memory, and becoming.”
After listening to Donté read excerpts from We Cry Freedom, the room felt charged and contemplative. Guests asked Donté about his sources of creativity, his years of work with local youth, and the writing process that shapes his poetry. But perhaps the most moving moment came when young listeners approached him—standing beside him with a kind of reverence, eager to hear his words and share their own. Watching him pour into them with patience and generosity captured exactly why his work matters.
Check out Donte’s books: