Author Profiles

Ohio has a rich literary heritage as well as some wonderful contemporary authors. Learn more about them here! You can sort by various categories and see who has participated in our annual book festival by using the category search on the left, or search by keyword (including partial author names) by using the search field on the right.

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Photo of Donte Woods-Spikes

Donte Woods-Spikes

Donte Woods-Spikes began working with youth in the Near Eastside of Columbus Ohio in 2011. His first youth project, A Talk With Our Sons consisted of youtube video interviews with young Black male youth and life experiences within the city. As the project gained recognition, Woods-Spikes was selected to give a TEDxColumbus Talk titled Young Black Men Not Left Out Again.…Read More

Donte Woods-Spikes began working with youth in the Near Eastside of Columbus Ohio in 2011.

His first youth project, A Talk With Our Sons consisted of youtube video interviews with young

Black male youth and life experiences within the city. As the project gained recognition,

Woods-Spikes was selected to give a TEDxColumbus Talk titled Young Black Men Not Left Out

Again.

Woods-Spikes also mentors young children. He created a documentary titled Donte &

Day’Mariah, which highlighted his journey mentoring a young Black girl and the dynamics and

benefits of cross gendered mentorship.

Woods-Spikes worked at a community center then transitioned into the columbus city schools

as a teachers aid for 3 years. 1 of those years taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic

which inspired him to write his book So. Long. Unfinished Good-byes with the Children of

COVID-19. His time is now devoted to professional development and contract work with schools

to create diverse inclusive environments for all children.