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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Audrey Kondelis is the owner of Pole Barn Chic. She spoke to Community Voices about how event planning comes natural to her. She also explained the difference between event designing and event planning. -
Marlene Saini is the owner of Sabores in Chatham, a Mexican ice cream shop. She spoke to Community Voices about her excitement for bringing authentic Mexican flavors to the area, the recipes behind some of the most popular items, and her sister's location in Springfield, Mas Sabores. Marlene also shared some new offerings such as Chicago-style hotdogs.
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Dr. Janet L. Gooch is the new chancellor for the University of Illinois Springfield. She spoke to Community Voices about how speech pathology led her into a career in university leadership. She also shared her vision for UIS and what keeps her busy when she’s not at the university.
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Originally from Iowa, Molly Norris is the new program director of the Hoogland Education program at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. She spoke to Community Voices about her career in music education and musical theatre. She also shared her excitement to work with the students in the Hoogland Education classes.
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The Harlem Gospel Travelers are performing at the Levitt Amp Springfield Music Series in downtown Springfield, Ill. on Aug. 4, 2022. Band members Ifedayo Gatling and George Marage spoke to Community Voices about how the group got their start. They also shared their experience meeting Elton John and learning how they are one of his favorite American music groups.
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June Wood Agamah is the author or “Caryl’s Closet,” a memoire about growing up in Guyana, South America and her experiences immigrating to America. She spoke to Community Voices about the book and her mission work in Ghana, West Africa.
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Casey Claypool is the owner of Doc’s Just Off 66, a new restaurant in Girard. Claypool spoke to Community Voices about the history of the restaurant and the international visitors it’s already attracting.
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Wafflelicious is a food truck serving both savory and sweet waffle-themed food items. Farah Zolghadr, who helps her father Abbas with the business, spoke to Community Voices about the challenges of running a food truck and shared how many waffles they make in a day.
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Cherena Douglas from Juneteenth Inc. and local artist Michelle Smith spoke to Community Voices about the events planned for Springfield's Juneteenth celebration happening June 16-19, which includes an art exhibit at the Illinois State Museum.
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Devin Michael Leming is a local actor from Decatur, Ill. He starred as Peter Pan at the Muni and is set to play SpongeBob SquarePants in the Muni's opening show. He spoke to Community Voices about the character and how he is preparing for the role.
