Community Voices

From handwritten notes to instant invoices: see how AI is transforming small business. Catch Adam Gurski's live demos are June 10–11, with more to come.

A unique Illinois program helps incarcerated mothers stay connected to their children through family visits, crafts, meals, and love.

Levitt AMP Springfield concert series kicks off the 2026 season. Bella Szabo provides some attendance tips.

Families forever shaped by the Civil War gather in Springfield this summer at the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War national convention.

Fresh food, free events, and friendships are growing at the Enos Park Neighborhood Gardens — where community blooms one raised bed at a time.

A beloved small-town doctor is found dead—and secrets unravel fast. Mount Zion author Chris Cooper debuts a new murder mystery.

WQNA is coming back to Springfield's airwaves. After 7 years, the eclectic, community-driven station is weeks from relaunch. Here's what to expect.

From AI data centers to drinking water and carbon storage, Illinois faces big environmental decisions this spring - UIS PAR class of 2026.

Cash bail, classroom phone bans, and the fight over college funding—here's what Illinois lawmakers are really debating this spring. - UIS PAR 2026

What do drug prices, hospital closures, and pensions have in common? They're all shaping affordability debates at the Illinois Capitol. The UIS PAR class of 2026 has more.

Free Small Business Skillshare May 7: AI, loans, government contracts & more. Quick, practical tips to grow your business—plus breakfast and lunch included.

A haunted school, a dragon-shaped lake, and a hero with ghostly powers. Meet Strangely Bumptious—a funny, spooky new middle-grade adventure set in central Illinois.

Springfield's The Lovelorn joins Nordista Freeze's 50 shows in 50 states world record run May 17 in Chicago. Be part of music history in the making.

Research has shown that engaging children in learning through play is the best way to set them up for success, both academically, but also socially.

A local author launches two space adventures—misfit crews, starship mortgages, and library inspiration. Meet Mark Susko and his expanding universe.

Prescribed burns keep Illinois ecosystems alive — but insurance barriers are stopping them. A new bill aims to change that. Ellicia Sanchez and Tharran Hobson of the Nature Conservancy explain.

Jacksonville rallies against Alzheimer's with trivia, empathy games and a fall walk. See how you can join the effort and support local families facing dementia.

From helicopter transports to 1-lb miracles, see how Springfield's NICU delivers world-class care — and compassion — when families need it most.

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer—but early screening can save lives. A survivor's story and expert insight show why getting checked now matters. Call 844-ALA-LUNG.

Evan Mitchell discusses the Zaden Dudra Memorial Skateboard Park in Taylorville, Illinois. A list of central Illinois skateboard parks is also provided for the community.

UIS student leaders take their stories to the Capitol, lobbying lawmakers for higher ed funding — and learning advocacy starts with using your voice.

Dorothy, the Scarecrow & a few surprise jitterbugs take the stage!

From remote learning to real-world storytelling, Tess Peterson is building her journalism career while spotlighting Springfield's stories. Discover her journey and passion for connection.

Spencer and Lyndsay Stokes speak on experiences as mural artists. Their beautiful murals can be seen from downtown Springfield to the flood wall in St. Louis, as cofounders of Trackside Murals.

What happens when you let the river back in? Discover how Emiquon's 7,000-acre wetland comeback is reshaping Illinois' future.

From Navy Band to solo “bass & spoken word,” William B. Hart blends Hendrix, Bach, bebop—and bold thoughts on AI. Hear his story on Community Voices.

Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport is preparing for the future of flight with electric aircraft, new infrastructure, and a vision to become a hub for advanced air mobility and innovation.

This forum unpacks how U.S. global strategy is shifting—and what that means. A more forceful, less predictable foreign policy is reshaping alliances, trust, and the world order.

Vanessa Lively of Austin, and Ben Bedford of Springfield, are musicians, songwriters, and visual artists. They perform in Springfield before the release of the album Mirroring the Wilderness.

Courtney Wick, author/director of Nightmare at Camp Killamanbimbo, reflects on writing a trio of murder mysteries, and how this latest show leans into the campy thrills of classic 1980s horror.

Marc Beach and Kristine Bunch of the Illinois Innocence Project work with the Wrongful Conviction Awareness and Avoidance Training Program to prevent law enforcement mistakes.

Lincoln Presidential Half Marathon race directors Brookelyn Swanberg and Randi Kuhn are preparing the race April 11, and how the anniversary of Route 66 is incorporated into this year's festivities.

Nicole Shomidie-Copp of 217 Foodies speaks about the popularity of the Facebook group, and being an admin for 217 groups.

The Hoogland presents the regional premiere of Disaster! A parody of 1970s movies — March 13-15, 20-22, 2026. Cast members Gus Gordon and Brittney McLaughlin preview the musical with Craig McFarland.

Curtis Sanders has created a book series on financial literacy for elementary schook age kids and is speaking to classes and groups about giving kids a good money foundation.

Writer, Educator, Activist, Poet, Christopher D. Sims relocated to Springfield from Rockford and is community organizer for Illinois Peoples Action.He attended Rust College, Mississippi's oldest HBCU.

Springfield Area Arts Council organizes the Poetry Out Loud Contest annually. Mark Turcotte, the Illinois Poet Laureate, visits to share how poetry is thriving because it's more than dead poets.

Ko'u Hopkins discuss the immigration story of UIS's Dr. Adrianna Crocker's, her life under a dictatorship and her life in the United States.

Amy Lynn gives the history of the National Scholastic Art Awards Mid-Central Illinois Region and discusses the inner workings of bringing the event together for students in this region.

National Sock Monkey Day with Amber Burke Johnson and Dave Kimsey from Capital City Improv

Ric Major from Curve Inn discusses next steps for a Springfield landmark

Karen Stallman of SIU School of Medicine's Farm Family Resource Initiative shares how rural farm families are dealing with accelerating changes in rural life and provides a lifeline at 833-FARM-SOS.

Central Illinois 'Skip gen' farmer, Paul Butler, left his software engineering gig in STL to return to his grandfather's Macon County farm. Tech has changed things since he grew up on it in the 1970s.

Chris Merrett, Dir., Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, shares a status of our rural areas, with postive and challenging developments as part of Community Voices effort to amplify rural voices.

Democrats Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Juliana Stratton participated in candidate forum broadcast Thursday on WTVP and presented by the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria and the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

Republicans Don Tracy, Casey Chlebek and Pamela Denise Long participated in a candidate forum broadcast Thursday on WTVP and presented by the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria and the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

A preview of Copper Coin Ballet Company's performance of Sleeping Beauty at the Legacy Theatre. Anna Liberman, Cambrie Easley, and Ronda Brinkman tell us more.

Ryan Croke visits to share his personal passion and explain the March 17, referendum to create and fund a Sangamon County Mental Health Board to improve the connectivity between existing services.

Jacob Dinardo speaks about his recent opening of Arrowroot Coffee Co. in downtown Springfield. His journey as a coffee roaster from the farmer's market to his first brick and mortar business.

Jeff C. Williams joins Randy Eccles and other contributors as a new co-host, editor, and producer of Community Voices as it enters its sixth year of production.

Former U.S. National Archives director, Colleen Shogan, appeared at the 2025 UIS Beaumont Endowed Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series to discuss the integrity of our national legacy.