City of West Hollywood
Home MenuCity Poet Laureate
2023-2026 West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng
West Hollywood's City Poet Laureate highlights the City of West Hollywood through the literary arts and, over a period of time, creates a new body of literary work that commemorates the diversity and vibrancy of the City. They serve as an official ambassador of West Hollywood’s vibrant literary culture, promoting poetry in West Hollywood, stimulating the transformative impact of poetry in the local community, and creating excitement about the written word.
Jen Cheng, our fifth West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, will serve from October 2023 - October 2026.
Please scroll down for upcoming City Poet Laureate events.
Since 2019, Jen Cheng has been writing poems for West Hollywood neighbors and visitors during WeHo Pride as a member of Pride Poets and as a typewriter poet with arts and community events around the Los Angeles area. With roots in social justice activism, Jen has been a performance poet and local cultural events producer. She recently produced two WeHo Pride 2023 events to celebrate stories from LGBTQ Elders with new souvenirs of poetry, building community bonds with intergenerational connection between older adults and younger poets. She is a 2023 California Arts Council Fellow.
Jen’s work and poetry has been showcased with the City of West Hollywood’s WeHo Reads series, VCP Socal, and Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station bG Gallery. During the social isolation of 2020, Jen wrote dog poems for many West Hollywood neighbors and hosted a virtual party to bring humor to spread cheer for dog lovers. As a culture creator, Jen blends her East-West perspectives into a new form, Feng Shui Poetry, infusing five element wellness concepts into poetry. Her upcoming book, Braided Spaces, has themes of immigrant displacement, critical race feminism, and queer musings by a Chinese-American eldest daughter. Jen’s interviews and poems can be found in outlets such as the Beverly Press, Queer Slam, and on KPFK’s Poets Cafe.
For more information about the City of West Hollywood's City Poet Laureate program, please contact Mike Che, Arts Coordinator, at mche@weho.org.
Upcoming Events
Holiday Poetry Hotline
December 1 – 31, 24 hours a day, (Recorded Poems)
Saturday, December 21, 2024, 2-5pm, (Live Custom Poems)
Free, (310) 853-3952
Call into the Holiday Poetry Hotline at (310) 853-3952 hosted by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng.
Recorded poems are available to listen to 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, during the entire month of December, featuring “poetry prescriptions” to respond to common ailments of winter blues. The hotline will feature poems from former and current West Hollywood City Poets Laureate.
On Saturday, December 21, 2024, from 2 pm to 5 pm, callers can enjoy live readings from the curated list of “poetry prescriptions” or request a custom poem written for them!
Holiday Poetry Writing Workshop with Jen Cheng
Saturday, December 7, 2024, 2-4pm
Saturday, December 21, 2024, 2-5pm (must attend first workshop to participate)
West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
Free, RSVP Required
Inspired by The Poetry Pharmacy, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng will host a two-part poetry writing workshop ahead of the winter holiday season. In the first part, find your spark by looking at poems that address certain “conditions” and workshopping your own writing. At the following workshop on December 21, participants will answer live calls and deliver “poem prescriptions” for callers. Attendance at the December 7 workshop is required to participate in the second event. No experience needed.
WeHo Reads: Through a Lens Queerly
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 | 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Venue: West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069
What makes a memory? What makes an idol? Through what lens do we examine ourselves and our community?
This discussion brings together a poet and author, a photographer, and a culture writer to discuss how they point a critical lens at themselves and their community. Charles Jensen is the author of Splice of Life: A Memoir in 13 Film Genres (Santa Fe Writer’s Project 2024) and the collection of poetry Instructions between Takeoff and Landing (University of Akron Press 2022). Manuel Betancourt is the author of The Male Gazed: On Hunks, Heartthrobs, and What Pop Culture Taught Me About (Desiring) Men (Penguin Random House 2024). Aaron Jay Young is a portrait photographer and the author of Queen (Padlock Publishing 2023).
West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng will read a poem to open the event.
Poems by Jen Cheng
‘Winter Memories’ (a poem for the City of West Hollywood for the holidays)
Gather the shimmering songs, quiet and loud.
It is winter and our sunny neighborhood loves a million colors, proud.
Cozy up with scarves and sweaters warm with memories of love.
Walk along rugged oak trees and bright bus shelters.
Visit with a cuppa and hear the hum that might be the next meme.
Your feet wander along and discover old and new beats:
Our winter wonders sans snow woo us to listen and stay a while.
Let the polyphony dazzle and tingle our hearts with delight.
Joyous (a poem for the City of West Hollywood for the holidays)
Joyous tunes sing brightly
Orbits of lights string the streets
Yellow candles stir meditations with tea
Olive branches ask for peace
Upward arches forge iconic memories
Sweet glances swing love into the new year
Painted Painter
By Jen Cheng, excerpt from upcoming book, Braided Spaces
I live in a box of paints
And let them wash over me
Never mind any blurred lines
Different colors tint me each day
Shadows of others from last week
Some of base notes mix and
Mutate into something new
A blend unexpected and leaks
Wisps of quantum light
Dress me in rare treasures like
Lapis Lazuli, gracing eyes
of Cleopatra so intensely
Who wouldn’t want admirers
Like royalty, custom made
Tailoring and then catching
Something playful with something sure
So let them call me exotic
I will own it as my mirage
To lure them in like honey wine
Effervescent patterns so rich
Complements and boldness erase
Limits and systems so rigid
Perceptions from every angle
Reflect the multiple faces.
Past Events
City Poet Laureate Installation
Sunday, October 22, 2023, 5pm
Plummer Park Community Center, Rooms 5&6, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
Featured music by ADA Trio, plant sculpture by Andi Xoch (Latinx with Plants), ASL interpretation by Sher Smith, and readings by 2021-22 Poet Laureate of Los Angeles Lynne Thompson and former and current West Hollywood City Poet Laureates Steven Reigns and Brian Sonia-Wallace. To see photos, click here.
---
City Poet Laureate Writing Workshop: Writing Memorable Characters
Saturday, October 28, 2023, 10:30am-12:30pm
West Hollywood Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC), Doheny Room, 8750 El Tovar Place
West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng and the LA County Library offer a workshop to inspire memorable characters using prompts and improv exercises to sharpen characters for writers of all levels. Whether it's narrative or poetry, bring your work-in-progress or start something new. We’ll create a safe space for you to discover fresh points of view.
---
WeHo Reads x Literary Death Match
Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 7pm
West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
The West Hollywood Holiday Poetry Hotline
Call in to: 310-853-3952
Live Hotline: Saturday, December 23, 2023, 2pm-5pm
Listen to Recorded Poems: December 18-31, 2023 (Available 24/7)
Holiday stress doesn't need to get us down when we have poetry to connect us to our shared humanity. Inspired by The Poetry Pharmacy, the West Hollywood Holiday Poetry Hotline is designed and led by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng to offer poetry and compassion during the winter holiday season. Dial in to the Live Hotline at 310-853-3952 on December 23 from 2pm-5pm to receive a "poem prescription" from a live reader or request a custom poem. Recorded poems will be available 24/7 from December 18-31. More information on the City's Holiday Arts programs: https://www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/holiday
We are also seeking participants who wish to help with the hotline. Info below:
Holiday Poetry Hotline: Writing and Reading Workshop, Part 1
Saturday, December 16, 2023, 2pm-4pm
West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
Free, RSVP required
Join West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng and the West Hollywood Library for a workshop of poetry writing and reading in preparation for the West Hollywood Holiday Poetry Hotline, inspired by The Poetry Pharmacy. Holiday stress doesn't need to get us down when we have poetry to connect to our shared humanity. Members of the public will be able to dial in to the Holiday Poetry Hotline and receive a 'poem prescription' from you. For those who want to share their voice on the Holiday Poetry Hotline on December 23, we will practice and record your voice reading poems curated by Jen Cheng in the last hour of the workshop. If scheduling is a challenge, you're welcome to do only Part 1 of this workshop. No experience needed. Come with curiosity. RSVPs are required.
---
Holiday Poetry Hotline Participant Workshop
Saturday, December 23, 2023, 2pm-5pm
West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
Free, RSVP required
Participants in Part 2 of this project are required to attend the Part 1 training aspect of this workshop on December 16.
Under the guidance of West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng, workshop participants will be answering phone calls live to deliver "poem prescriptions" for callers. We practice the art of listening and choose a poem from our dispensary of curated poems. Several Pride Poets will be on hand to write custom typewriter poems. RSVPs are required.
---
Feng Shui Poetry: A Writing Workshop
Saturday, December 30, 2023, 10:30am-12:30pm
West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
Free, RSVP required
End 2023 and greet 2024 with Feng Shui Poetry, a form created by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng as way to write poetry with a new perspective through a lens of Feng Shui principles. What we have to say can go through a lens of feelings or themes to help it be more powerful. We can transform quiet whispers into something more clear or feelings into something actionable through a lens of Feng Shui principles. The five elements – Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood – are a way to meditate on your message. This writing workshop is for adults. No experience needed. Come with curiosity.
Celebrating Civil Rights Heroes
Saturday, January 20, 2024, 1-6pm
Plummer Park Community Center, Rooms 5/6, 7737 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
Free, RSVP Requested
Join West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng for an afternoon celebrating civil rights heroes.
- 1:30pm-3pm: A panel of civil rights leaders speak about building coalitions.
- 3:30pm-5pm: an edition of Palabras Literary Salon featuring BIPOC poets and writers sharing around the theme “visionaries.”
- Before, after and between these sessions enjoy a reception and shopping with arts vendors.
Feng Shui Poetry: A Writing Workshop
Saturday, February 3, 2024, 10:30am-12:30pm
West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
Free, RSVP required
Prepare for the Lunar New Year with Feng Shui Poetry, a form created by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng as way to write poetry with a new perspective. The five elements – Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood – are a way to meditate on your message and transform your feelings into something actionable. No experience needed. Come with curiosity. Photos here.
City Poet Laureate Writing Workshop: Writing Memorable Characters
Saturday, March 30, 10:30am-12:30pm
West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
Free, RSVP Required
West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng and the LA County Library offer a workshop to inspire memorable characters using prompts and improv exercises to sharpen characters for writers of all levels. In celebration of Women's History Month, there will be a component of the class about writing strong female characters. Whether it's narrative or poetry, bring your work-in-progress or start something new. We’ll create a safe space for you to discover fresh points of view. RSVP Required
WeHo Reads: Asian Pacific Diaspora Talk Story
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Free to attend
West Hollywood Library Community Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
Hear from a panel of poets and writers during Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month as they share their stories, connect across the diaspora, and discuss what it means to be from the Asian-Pacific diaspora. Musical guest Jett Kwong opens this event by celebrating the panel of Asian/Pacific American authors, including Ryka Aoki, Curtis Chin, Jasmin Iolani Hakes, Angela Peñaredondo, and Fariha Róisín, and hosted by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng.
WeHo Reads is a literary series presented by the City of West Hollywood. More information and events at www.weho.org/wehoreads. BookSwell, a literary events and media company dedicated to lifting up writers from historically excluded communities, is producing this WeHo Reads season. Additional support is provided by UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and Poets & Writers as well as media partnerships with Book Soup, and Los Angeles Review of Books.
Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.
Windows Media Player
Word Viewer
Excel Viewer
PowerPoint Viewer
