The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum provides a number of ways for community members to be involved including their volunteer program. Director of Volunteer Services Jeremy Carrell and Volunteer Services Manager Melissa Blankestyn spoke to Community Voices about the importance of volunteers at the museum, their responsibilities, and their new VolunTEENS program which piloted this summer. They also talk about the training sessions the museum will be offering for new volunteers this fall.

The Citizens Club of Springfield held a meeting on Aug. 23, which featured CEO of the YMCA of Springfield Angie Sowle. Sowle shared her personal history with the YMCA, how the organization reaches out to the community, and how the YMCA of Springfield will celebrate 150 years in the community.

The field of Medical Laboratory Science is facing a critical staffing shortage in the Springfield area community. Dr. Andrea Jensen, Program Director and Assistant Professor of Medical Laboratory Science program at UIS, spoke to Community Voices about the new bridge program at UIS created to address this shortage.

Chris Vallillo is a musician who combines history and sense of place in much of his work. Forgottonia is an Illinois Humanities Council funded performance project combining music and photography into a memorable take on western Illinois and rural places.

Ashley Brown originated the role of Mary Poppins on Broadway, and she will perform in Springfield, Ill. on Sept. 14 as the headliner for the Hoogland Center for the Arts Gala. Brown spoke to the Beyond the Mouse podcast about her upcoming performance. For more information visit hcfta.org

The Lifespan of a Fact is a 2018 Broadway play based on a book of the same name co-written by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal. The play surrounds an essayist and fact-checker as they grapple with the distinction between fact and truth. Actors Jakob Hankins and Laura Briggs spoke to Community Voices about the importance and timeliness of the show, which will run Sept. 26-29 in the Studio Theater at UIS.

Jason Hudy has performed worldwide, and on Saturday, Sept. 14, he will perform at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center. He spoke to Community Voices about his 20-year career, from working with Disney Cruise Lines to his TEDx Talk, “The Secret Behind a Magic Show”, and his experience catering to different audiences.

Max Beckman talks about his appearance at Sept. 13 UIS Date Night event and his music with Waxwell Weckman and others. The Date Night performance will feature an electric bass quintet in a way you might not imagine.

Ben's creativity overfloweth. Ben Bedford is a Springfield-based internationally recognized folk musician. Ben stages his first art exhibit of his pen and ink work at Perspectives Art Gallery with an opening reception Sept. 7, noon to 5 p.m.

Petersburg’s Adam and Boomer Galassi are brothers and filmmakers. They spoke to Community Voices about their creative processes, their films, and their experiences as a part of the Blue Man Group.