LIGHT Open Call Submissions
Heather Balchunas
“LIGHT” Open Art Call Submissions
Leaders Igniting Generational Healing and Transformation (LIGHT) is calling for submissions of art, letters, stories, and poetry for Issue 6 of the LIGHT Magazine, a literary magazine in public health that uses creativity to center the public in public health.
In this call, we invite everyone to reflect on their roots of joy and how joy sustains their wellbeing. Joy is a root system–it anchors us during times of change, holds us through moments of exhaustion or grief, and quietly supports our capacity to care for ourselves, our communities, and one another.
Wellbeing lives in our bodies, relationships, cultures, and daily practices. When tended to, joy can be a powerful form of care and healing and a vital foundation for wellbeing. Our roots of joy take many forms. Joy may be inherited or discovered, quiet or exuberant, communal or personal. Often, these roots become most visible during moments of transition, burnout, loss, or growth—when what sustains us matters most.
Creative expression allows us to explore joy beyond standards and definitions. We ask you: Using art, letters, stories, and poetry, tell us: How might the roots of your joy sustain your wellbeing?
The deadline to submit via Submittable is May 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST. Prize money (1st: $500, 2nd: $375, 3rd: $125) will be given to the top three contestants of each category.
To learn more about LIGHT and our call for submissions, please visit our website.
The flyer is also attached! We look forward to creating Issue 6 of LIGHT!
Contact Idia Binitie Thurston, PhD | She, her, hers (What's this?)
Associate Director, Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research
Professor, Public Health & Health Sciences and Applied Psychology
Affiliate Professor, Africana Studies
Northeastern University
Change Lab|X: @Idia_T
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