ST. LOUIS, MO – February 26, 2025 – In an era where public health decisions impact every aspect of our lives, trust is the foundation of well-being influencing whether individuals seek care, follow medical advice, and engage in preventative measures. Yet, trust in public health has faced challenges, and continues to have more challenges presented each day. Leaders Igniting Generational Healing and Transformation (LIGHT), a St. Louis-based literary arts and public health initiative, is calling on artists, writers, and storytellers to creatively explore a vital question: How might we build public health systems that are trustworthy?
Throughout history, artists have played a critical role in shaping social movements and advocating for justice. James Baldwin and Maya Angelou exposed racial injustice through literature. Frida Kahlo painted the realities of pain and disability. Gordon Parks and the photographers of the Civil Rights Movement forced America to confront its inequalities. The ACT UP movement used art and performance to push for AIDS research and public health accountability.
From the AIDS crisis to COVID-19, creative expression has been a powerful force in health justice. Artists and storytellers have been the truth-tellers, the visionaries, the ones who expose what policies often ignore. Now, LIGHT is launching an open call for creative submissions to spark conversations and solutions through art, letters, stories, and poetry.
The open call invites you to consider:
● What builds and restores trust in public health?
● What fosters mistrust, and how can it be overcome?
● How can creative expression bridge the gap between communities and public health professionals?
Artists, writers, and community members from St. Louis and beyond are encouraged to submit their work. Selected pieces will be featured in LIGHT’s fifth publication, amplifying voices that reflect diverse perspectives on trust in public health.Submissions are open now.
Learn more and submit your work at: https://light4ph.org/contest/
About LIGHT
LIGHT (Leaders Igniting Generational Healing and Transformation) is a literary arts and public health initiative dedicated to using storytelling and creative expression to reimagine health equity and community well-being. Based in St. Louis, LIGHT publishes literary works and fosters dialogue at the intersection of art, health, and social change.
For press inquiries, interviews, or partnership opportunities, please contact:
Carmen Dillman
LIGHT – Leaders Igniting Generational Healing & Transformation
dcarmen@wustl.edu
(217) 816-8527
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