Community Voices

The Illinois Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Day at the Capitol is coming up April 30th - May 1st in Springfield. They will be partnering with the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated for a day of advocacy and education. Michael Gaines, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Sherri Hale, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. spoke to Community Voices abo

Beth Allen is Manager of Community Development for the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois. She also is Rotary Youth Exchange Chair for the local District 6460. Beth spoke to Community Voices about upcoming Girl Scouts of Central Illinois events, her travel experiences, and Rotary Youth Exchange. She also discusses an organization called Together Women Rise.

Maritza Bandera, Healing Illinois program manager, Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), joins Community Voices to share how this grant program works to increase equity, understanding, and engagement between all races in Illinois.

The UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership, the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and the Illinois Innovation Network are co-hosting two days of presentations, discussion and networking around policy and social innovation. Interim director of the U of I Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) David Merriman, Associate Vice President at the University of Illin

Lauren Gleason, volunteer coordinator, Illinois State Historic Sites; and Jenn Edginton, interim director, Illinois State Museum joined Community Voices to provide more information about the Illinois History Day experience for students and volunteers. Judges and other volunteers to facilitate the event are still needed.

Lance Tawzer is the Director of Exhibits and Shows at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. His love of music led to his start in Material Issue then The Lupins, to museums, and now to Petersburg and the ALPLM where he brought it all together for the highly attended State of Sound exhibit.

Juliana Stratton is the 48th lieutenant governor of Illinois. In December 2023, the office of the Lt. Governor launched a new initiative called We Thrive, which focuses on women and financial freedom. In February 2024, Governor Pritzker announced a new initiative that focuses on maternal health care called the Birth Equity Initiative. Lt. Governor Stratton spoke to Community Voices

The Capital Area Concert band is an all-volunteer organization that provides opportunities for life-long band musicians to perform long after they've graduated from high school. The organization is celebrating 50 years and has several upcoming concerts. Band members Jan Zepp and Tom King spoke to Community Voices about the history of the organization, the music performed over the y

Dr. Mike Yao is a Professor of Digital Media and the Director of the Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. He recently spoke on the panel for Unveiling AI Bias via a Multidisciplinary Lens organized by the UIS AI Campus Learning Community. He explained to Community Voices how AI bias is generated by humans and reflects back what it lea

Interim Associate Dean for the College of Public Affairs and Education Ann Strahle and Director of the Public Affairs Reporting Program Jason Piscia sat down with Co-host Bea Bonner to discuss the UIS Journalism and Podcasting Camp. They discuss this rare opportunity that provides aspiring young journalists to learn more about the industry and how to guard themselves against misinf