At Last!

Presenting Volume 24!

East on Central is proud to be supported in part by Highland Park Community Foundation, Illinois Arts Council and Arts Link North.

If you didn’t make it to the launch party - join us for our East on Central Showcase!

Sunday, September 21st, 2 - 4p

North Suburban YMCA
in the Community Gallery
2705 Techny Road
Northbrook, IL 60062

East on Central, Volume 24 (2025-2026)

Contributing Visual Artists

Kenn Ashley * Marcia Babler * Mary Barnes-Gingrich * Corky Barsky * Shelly Berk * Sr. Lutgardis Bonitz * Gloria Bradle * Allison Bruce * Jan Burke * Stephen Butzlaff * Monica Cardestam * Allen Cohen * Barbara Dolinger * Susan Dorn * Jennifer Evans * Jane Feely * Jonathan Friedman * Steve Geer * Candice Glicken * Alex Hodges * Susan Holtz * Judith Joseph * Sherry Karver * Joan Ladendorf * Robert Laemle * Phyllis Levun-Agostino * Terry Loncaric * R. Scott McNeill * Sarah DeYoung Metzger * Margoth K Moreno * Andrea Moss * Denis Naylor * René Parks * Naomi Pollack * Larry Rockoff * Karen Ross * Thomas Sandercock * Caren Sax * Howard Schultz * Jan Keller Schultz * Stephen Serio * Ryan Shaw * Maya Shimoni * Marla Silverman * Regina Siske * Pam Speigel * Cheryl L. Steiger * Venu Tummalapalli * Ellen Van Vechten * Peter Van Vechten * Lynn West

Contributing Writers

Christine Alexanians * Carol Alfus * Lois Baer Barr * James Bellanca * Mary Beth Bretzlauf * Paul Buchheit * Joseph Kuhn Carey * Patricia Carney * Esteban Colon * Cathy Colton * Susan Dennison * Jennifer Dotson * Karen L. Erickson * Lynn Fitzgerald * Judith Stern Friedman * Steve Geer * Candice Glicken * Carol Gloor * Gail Goepfert * Nancy Hepner Goodman * Jonathan Gordon * Kathleen Gregg Cynthia Hahn * James Lowell Hall * Kathryn P. Haydon * Linda Hendelman * Muriel Harlene Henry * Melissa Huff * Kate Hutchinson * Julie Isaacson * Beth Jack * Chris Johnson * Judith MK Kaufman * Elizabeth King * Miriam Kohn * Emma Alexandra Kowalenko * Carol Spielman Lezak * Terry Loncaric * Olivia Maciel * Colleen McManus Hein * Jen Meyer * Wilda Morris * Govindamunni P. Mozhiyot * Lakshmy Nair * Carole Novak * Rachel Orzoff * Tracie Renee * Maureen Perkins * Michael Pickard * Jane Richards * Marjorie Rissman * Assad Shafie * Amy Shimoni * Mary Simone * Michael Simon * Henry Torres * Linda Wallin * Austin Warshawsky * Lynn West * RM Yager

A Quick Look at Volume 24!

Art Credits: Top Center: Streetwise by Stephen Serio; Second Row Left: Meditation by Susan Dorn; Second Row Right: On the Path of Remembrance by Sherry Karver; Bottom Center: Still Contemplating Exploration by Jennifer Evans

Accolades for East On Central:

“I was highly impressed with my first time seeing the journal this autumn—astonished at the high quality of the graphics, paper, artwork and editing. Aside from its content, Volume 22 is a masterpiece in itself. The placement of the graphic content—the photos and artwork—is brilliantly and thoughtfully done. All your time and care has produced a stunningly impressive totality.”

Doug Macdonald

“Love that we are garnering attention from writers and artists beyond our Highland Park community! 

Thanks so much for all your efforts and for producing such a beautiful documentary of people's thoughts and perspectives as this world continues to evolve. I look forward to the next edition…”

Judith Stern Friedman

“East on Central is terrific!  Congratulations and may you go from strength to strength.”

Lois Barr

General Submission Guidelines

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES

• Submitters must be 18 years of age or older.

• We accept only material that has not been previously published. Copyright remains with the creator.

• The required submission fee is $10 for up to 4 pieces per entry.

• Anyone submitting both written work and visual art must pay the $10 fee for each category.

• Submission topics are of a general nature but may also relate to the issue’s “Focus on…” section. The theme for this section in 2026 is PATTERNS.

• No work that is deemed unduly vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate by the editorial committees will be considered.

• The annual submission period is January-February. Notification of acceptance is sent in May, with September publication.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITERS

• Writers may submit up to 4 entries of either poetry, prose, or a combination.

• Prose entries may be fiction or non-fiction and are limited to 1,500 words.

• Submissions must be in final form, including title of work.

• All submitted work must be original and wholly created by the writer. Any work generated in part or completely by AI will not be accepted. 

GUIDELINES FOR ARTISTS

• Visual artists may submit up to 4 entries, each with a unique title. This may include any fine art, such as painting or sculpture, and includes photography and collage.

• Artwork must be an original creation by the artist.

• Files must be in a JPG or JPEG format. Photos taken of artwork must be accurately cropped and publication ready.

COLLABORATIONS
In the case of work submitted by a writer and a visual artist together as a collaboration, writers and artists need to submit their work separately, indicating that the piece is part of a collaboration, and naming the corresponding piece and submitter. The work will be judged by both literary and visual art committees, and must be accepted by both, unless either contributor indicates publication of his/her individual part of the collaboration alone is acceptable. The editors may choose not to accept all of the collaborative pieces.