Meet Delanté Cherry of Off The Clock

Today we’d like to introduce you to Delanté Cherry.

Hi Delanté, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up all over the DMV due to dealing with divorced parents. When my parents split up, my mother and I spent time living with family and friends to get by. Eventually, we became homeless, and I had to decide between continuing to live with my mother or changing custody to my father, who could provide a better life for me and elevate my budding basketball career. It was a tough decision, but I chose to continue living with my mother so that we could live in a family shelter instead of her living in a women’s shelter by herself.

This really affected me in high school. I got into fights every week and found myself involved in a lot of situations I had no business being in. My grades were horrible and left me ineligible to play basketball every single year. I’d work hard every season and play well in the summer, only to be ineligible the second the first report cards came out. Any college coaches who were looking at me slowly stopped coming around to watch me on the AAU circuit. This left me uninterested in furthering my education, knowing that I had lost basketball.

I still managed to graduate on time and enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia’s community college. I didn’t even want to live on campus, but my mother encouraged it, and it changed my life. The friends I made and the environment of the university inspired me to be better. I ended my freshman year of college with a 4.0 GPA, and everything was up from there. I ended up pledging Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and walking on to the basketball team after years removed from the sport to accomplish my childhood goal of becoming a college athlete.

I graduated from college a completely different man, armed to accomplish my wildest dreams, but I had a hard time finding a job in the journalism field. One day, I had a viral tweet, and at the end of it, I asked if anyone knew someone who could mentor me, and that’s when Marlon Walker reached out to me. Marlon invited me to a National Association of Black Journalists bootcamp in North Carolina, and the information I gained there launched my career. My father drove me there, and I learned about the communications field. One of the guest speakers told me that she made more money in 10 years of communications than she did in 25 years as a journalist. She told us that unless we truly, truly loved journalism, we should pivot to communications. I heard that I never looked back.

With 5 years under my belt in the field, everything was looking great until it wasn’t. I was fired from two of my jobs on back-to-back days. One, because of layoffs, and the other because I had a racist new manager who made it her job to get rid of me the second she got the job. I faced my first adult adversity and truly wanted to self-destruct. My biggest fear was being homeless again, and I felt like I was facing it again if I didn’t get a new job soon. I ended up landing an even better job after 3 months, making more money than I ever had in my life. I was doing great work there, but after scheduling a meeting with my manager to confront her about how she spoke to us, she came back to work the next day and decided to fire me. The lady was truly one of the worst people I’ve ever met. She would curse us out and call us all types of names when she was upset about something.

I sat there, unemployed again, and was in disbelief at what my life had turned into. I had extreme self-doubt. Wondered if I could have done something different. Maybe let my boss talk to me however she wanted to? Allow the racist manager at the other job to continue to berate me based on the color of my skin? I was lost, and I decided that day that I would no longer allow my life to be in others’ hands.

I looked at myself in the mirror, figured out what I was good at, and I got to work. My first business was social media consulting. I knew I could grow a brand, so I used my skillset to help small businesses grow theirs. No more having to deal with disrespectful managers, just me directly helping others. The other thing I knew that I was good at was connecting people. My next business is named “Off the Clock”. I formed the group with 4 of my frat brothers to throw curated fine dining events in DC. We’re really starting to take off and have just hit the milestone of 1K followers on Instagram (@OffTheClock.DC). The last thing I knew I could control was chasing my goals. I’ve always had a love of sports and dreamed of working for a professional sports team in my hometown. I always thought this was too lofty a goal, but I decided if I was ever going to work for someone again, it was going to be something I was passionate about. So next stop, Georgetown University to pursue my Master’s in Sports Industry Management. I finished my first semester with a 4.0, so the future is looking bright.

I don’t know where God is leading me next, but if there is one message that I want to share with anyone reading this, everything truly happens for a reason; the good, the bad, and the ugly. The plan you have for your life is minuscule compared to the plan God has for you. Trust Him, no matter how it looks.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I touched on this in my story, but the main struggles I have faced are homelessness, discrimination, and unemployment. I’ve always had an uphill battle but I just find a way to keep making it happen.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Off the Clock is a luxury event curation brand built around one simple idea: when the workday ends, the fun begins. We create elevated dining, brunch, day party, and nightlife experiences that bring together Washington, D.C.’s professionals, tastemakers, and social influencers in a sophisticated yet welcoming environment. Our events are designed to feel both refined and personal, blending exceptional food, premium venues, curated entertainment, and memorable experiences.

What sets us apart is our focus on creating an experience, not just an event. Whether it’s a signature brunch experience, a themed activation, or an exclusive social gathering, every detail is intentionally curated to deliver a luxury experience that feels authentic to D.C. culture. We prioritize quality over quantity, partnering with top chefs, DJs, venues, and brands to create moments our guests genuinely look forward to attending.

Brand-wise, we’re most proud of building a community around the Off the Clock lifestyle. Our audience knows they can expect amazing vibes, great cuisine, curated music, and a room full of professionals looking to connect, celebrate, and enjoy the city. We’ve transformed brunch from just a meal into an experience and created a brand that people associate with quality, consistency, and unforgettable Sundays.

We want readers to know that Off the Clock is more than an event company; it’s a lifestyle brand. From luxury brunches and day parties to unique social experiences, our mission is to create spaces where people can unwind, network, celebrate, and make lasting memories while experiencing the very best of what Washington, D.C. has to offer.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
The main people I give credit for my success is God, my parents for always believing in me, Marlon Walker for setting me on my career path, and my Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. brothers for providing mentorship and structure.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delantecherry/