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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Pam Molitoris is the executive director of the Central Illinois Foodbank. She spoke to Community Voices about her journey into the nonprofit realm, how the foodbank is adapting to provide for the community, and initiatives like their mobile kitchen cart, which teaches community members how to cook. She also addresses concerns surrounding cuts to local food programs and leaves a message for the community to come together during uncertain times. Find more information about the Central Illinois Foodbank here. -
Zwei - Dumm is a group that focuses on improv and physical comedy, more popularly known as clowning. The group was started by Rha-Bea and Travis Wiggins. Together with Capital City Improv (CCI), they will be hosting a show on May 3, 2025, called Clownprov/Anything for a Dollar. Zwei - Dumm/CCI members Rha-Bea and Jacob Kimsey spoke to Community Voices about their journey with CCI, the history of clowning, and how the upcoming show will work. Tickets and details can be found here. -
On April 8, Vanessa Ferguson and Bea Bonner hosted a live taping of CV in the MC or Community Voices in Macon County at The Staley Museum in Decatur, Ill. -
Dr. Ziad Issa was named Executive Medical Director of Prairie Cardiovascular in September 2024. -
During the March 2025 Lunch and Learn Series, Dr. Hei-Chi Chan, UIS associate professor of mathematical sciences and philosophy and co-founder of the university’s AI Campus Learning Community, gave a presentation on the evolution of AI, the university's AI Campus Learning Community, how students can make the best use of AI, and the future of AI in our society. UIS is offering a camp on AI this summer. -
Live Action Role Playing (LARPing) is a type of role-playing game where participants physically embody their characters. Unlike tabletop role-playing games, players act out their characters' actions and interact with each other while pursuing goals in a fictional setting, which is represented by real-world environments. -
Angela Jackson is an award-winning poet, novelist, and playwright. She is also the fifth Illinois Poet Laureate. She spoke to Community Voices about her background in writing, the influence of poetry and song on social justice movements, and she explains some of her different works. Jackson also recited one of her poems called "The Smoke Queen." Read more about Angela and her work as Illinois Poet Laureate here. -
The Citizens Club of Springfield met in March 2025 to host a forum called "Building an Illinois State Fair for the Future." -
Haley Wilson, founder of The Culture Experience LLC, and Molly Frey, owner of The Pasfield House, spoke to Community Voices to announce The Culture Experience's residency at the historic Pasfield House. -
Deanna Knight is a local drag queen. She spoke to Community Voices about her journey in drag, the drag scene in Springfield, and the impact of recent political shifts on the community. She also highlighted her efforts to uplift the community through upcoming events Drag Bingo with Otis & Ethel on April 4th and Club La Cage: An Evening of Springfield’s Best Drag Artists on April 5th, featuring talented drag queens and kings.
