The City of West Hollywood has appointed Jen Cheng as the new City Poet Laureate for the term from October 2023 to 2026. This decision was made by the City Council during their regular meeting on September 18, 2023.
Jen Cheng was chosen after a comprehensive selection process led by a committee that included members from various city departments and organizations. The city has a history of supporting the arts, including its WeHo Reads literary series and the establishment of the City Poet Laureate program in 2014. Previous holders of this title include Steven Reigns, Kim Dower, Charles Flowers, and Brian Sonia-Wallace.
Jen Cheng is a resident of West Hollywood and is actively involved in the community. She has been particularly noted for her role in the “Pride Poets” project, an initiative that has produced thousands of custom poems for the public. In her new role, she will focus on promoting the arts and engaging with the community through various public events and literary activities.
An event to officially install Jen Cheng will be held on October 22, 2023, at the Plummer Park Community Center. The event will also feature other poets, including Lynne Thompson, the 2021-22 Poet Laureate of Los Angeles.
Jen Cheng has been involved in arts and community events in the Los Angeles area since 2019. She has a background in social justice activism and has produced events to celebrate stories from the LGBTQ community. Her work has been featured in various platforms, and she is also a 2023 California Arts Council Fellow.
For more details about arts programs in West Hollywood, you can visit the city’s official website. Additional information about the City Poet Laureate program is also available online, or you can contact Mike Che, the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Coordinator.
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