Beatrice Bonner
Community Voices - Editor/ Co-HostBeatrice is the Community Voices Editor for NPR Illinois.
Reach Bea at communityvoices@nprillinois.org.
Previously, she was the Leadership Lived student worker for NPR Illinois during the 2017-2018 school year. Beatrice completed the Capital Honors Scholars Program majoring in communications at UIS in 2018.
Beatrice has acted as a multimedia consultant and co-host at Teen Talk Radio Theater in Chicago.
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Brigitte Franzen is a certified financial planner and a former hog farmer. She spoke to Community Voices about her journey to Central Illinois, establishing her own hog farm, and her new book "Have Pigs, Will Travel." Brigitte also gives words of encouragement for others who have dealt with detours in life.
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This week on Beyond the Mouse, Brett and Bea sit down with Benjamin Rauhala, the music director for Disney Princess: The Concert. They talk about the show and how it's changed over the years. Rauhala also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the production and what new music is added to the program.Disney Princess: The Concert comes to Springfield, Ill. on Wednesday March 6, 2024. For more information visit: https://uispac.com/disney-princess-the-concert/Disney Princess: The Concert arrives at the Fabulous Fox in St. Louis on Saturday March 16, 2024. For more information visit: https://www.fabulousfox.com/events/detail/disney-princess
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Dr. Jamarco Clark joined UIS as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs on June 12, 2023. He spoke to Community Voices about his experience working at different colleges, starting at UIS, and the role of student affairs on college campuses. Dr. Clark also gives advice and words of wisdom on achieving goals.
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Becky Wheeler is the founder of Beltany Wellness which provides online classes and guided journeys through Ireland to promote healing and transformation. She spoke to Community Voices about her experiences in Ireland, embracing the intuitive voice, and her upcoming guided intuitive journey to Ireland. Becky also talks about shamanic breathwork and other spiritual practices.
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Mary Kate Smith is a local voice teacher, actress, singer and more. She also owns The Studio on the Square in Petersburg, Ill. where they offer a variety of lessons and classes. Mary Kate spoke to Community Voices about her journey with theatre and music, her experiences in Chicago and L.A. and the success of The Studio on the Square. She also talked about some of the most rewarding productions she's been a part of at the Springfield Muni Opera.
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The Cats' Pyjamas is the new cat café opening soon in Springfield, Ill. The owners are Springfield locals Tom Raymond and Samantha Enz. They spoke to Community Voices about the origins of cat cafes, how to properly engage with cats and what they hope to offer at the café. They also talk about the benefits of having a cat café in town.
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Tim Crawford is a local playwright, director and actor. He is also the current Our Stage / Our Voices Artist-In-Residence for the University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center. Tim spoke to Community Voices about uplifting diverse voices in the community, his playwriting workshop and his upcoming play "Outraged: Terror in Springfield 1908." Tim also discusses the benefits of the Our Stage / Our Voices Artist-In-Residency Program.
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Jill Hawkins-Wright is the Director of The Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center at the University of Illinois Springfield. Jill has a background in public health and previously worked as the Volunteer Coordinator at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach before she started at UIS in 2018. Jill spoke to Community Voices about her interest in public health, the services the center offers on campus and in the community, and the upcoming Good as Gold event.
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Dennis Rendleman is a local lawyer concentrating on legal, judicial and governmental ethics. He is also well known in the Springfield theatre community, appearing in shows such as "Evita" and "Godspell." Dennis spoke to Community Voices about his work as a lawyer and the most memorable shows he's participated in. He also shared his experience voicing Ebenezer Scrooge in the Hoogland Center for the Arts 2020 virtual presentation of "A Christmas Carol."