WeHo Stories Book Launch

WeHo Stories Official Book Launch Inspires Community Reflection and Connection‍

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026 the City of West Hollywood and the LA County Library co-hosted a memorable evening celebrating the official launch of WeHo Stories, a limited-edition coffee table book and website that chronicles the voices and experiences of individuals who helped lead West Hollywood’s cityhood movement and shaped its formative first decade.

The event drew an enthusiastic crowd, with approximately 150 community members in attendance for what became an inspiring and meaningful gathering. Guests gathered in the City’s Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room, welcomed by an atmosphere of camaraderie, connection, and community pride.

WeHo Stories is a community-driven project conceived by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath while she served as a West Hollywood City Councilmember and Mayor. The project was developed in partnership with the LA County Library, West Hollywood Library, and the City of West Hollywood through a dedicated project team and advisory committee.

The centerpiece of the evening was a panel discussion featuring:

• Barbara Grover, WeHo Stories project lead, visual storyteller, political consultant, and communications strategist;
• Lindsey P. Horvath, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Third District, and former West Hollywood Councilmember/Mayor;
• Skye Patrick, CEO of the LA County Library (who moderated the discussion); and
• Professor Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, Co-Director of the Santa Monica College Public Policy Institute.
  

Panelists reflected on the power of storytelling as a force for community-building, identity, and advocacy, especially within marginalized communities such as the LGBTQ+ community. Their conversation was thought-provoking and timely, resonating in the context of the current federal political climate and affirming how personal narratives preserve lived experiences, counter cultural erasure, and reinforce a shared sense of belonging.

An excerpt from the book shared during the discussion transported attendees back to election night, in November 1984, a defining moment when a coalition of renters, seniors, homeowners, and LGBTQ+ activists came together to make history, even as national politics shifted in a different direction. That snapshot framed how WeHo Stories brings to life the City of West Hollywood’s origin through vivid portraits and first-person narratives.

Following the panel discussion, attendees lingered over coffee and pastries in a lively mix-and-mingle and shared reflections, stories, and decades-long connections inspired by the evening’s conversation. Attendees also had an exciting opportunity to preview copies of the forthcoming WeHo Stories book, which has been printed in a limited run in recognition of West Hollywood’s 40th anniversary of Cityhood.

Members of the public are invited to sign up to request a copy of the book, which will be available in exchange for a suggested donation supporting the Friends of the West Hollywood Library. All proceeds will help strengthen enhanced library programs, collections, services, and technology to help ensure that the stories of West Hollywood’s past remain accessible for generations to come.

The WeHo Stories official book launch was a celebration of history and a reminder of the power of shared narrative to unite, educate, and inspire, as well as a testament to the vibrant, diverse community that defines the City of West Hollywood.

For more information about the project, to sign up to request a copy of the book by donation, and to read individual WeHo Stories, visit www.wehostories.org.