Vanessa Ferguson
Community Voices - Production CoordinatorVanessa is the Community Voices Production Coordinator. Reach Vanessa at vfergu3@uis.edu.
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The Women Entrepreneurs of Central Illinois (WECI) are hosting the Women Entrepreneurs Showcase on March 6 from 4:30-7 p.m. WECI members Alyssa Furling and Robin Loftus spoke to Community Voices about the event and the various businesses featured.
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The January Citizens Club of Springfield meeting examined the impact of the pending health professional shortage on the Springfield Community. The discussion featured Dr. Jerry Kruse, Dean and Provost of Southern Illinois University’s School of Medicine and the CEO of SIU medicine. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Stephen Stone, professor emeritus at SIU school of medicine.
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Rebecca Amato is the Director of Teaching and Learning for Illinois Humanities and Alexandra Sossa is from the Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project. Illinois Humanities received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest to present The NEA Big Read: Reconsidering the American Dream. This is a series of free book groups, free public events, and hands-on workshops that explore and challenge our understanding of the "American Dream." Amato and Sossa spoke to Community Voices about the books featured in the Big Read, the changing ideology surrounding the "American Dream", and the event coming to Springfield on Feb. 22. They also spoke about different challenges and inequities immigrants and farmers face in Illinois.
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The Looking for Lincoln Stories podcast shares stories about the people and places of Abraham Lincoln’s time. It also highlights lesser known stories about African Americans who lived in the area. To honor Black History Month, NPR Illinois is sharing episodes of The Looking for Lincoln Stories podcast. To hear more from the podcast visit: https://www.lookingforlincoln.org/education/stories
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Tania Miller is one of the candidates for the open Music Director position at the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. She'll conduct the upcoming concert "Captivating Contrasts," on Feb. 16 in Springfield, Ill. and on Feb. 17 in Bloomington-Normal, Ill. Miller spoke to Community Voices about the performance which will feature works by Beethoven, Barber and Nielsen.For more information visit ilsymphony.org
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Stephanie Myers and Natalie Keller are two artists whose art is featured in the “Local Perspectives Show,” at the Perspectives Art Gallery in Petersburg, Ill. The art show runs Jan. 27 through Feb. 16. Myers and Keller spoke to Community Voices about what inspires their work. Myers explained how she likes to use vibrant colors, and Keller explained how she utilizes old drum heads from the Blue Man Group to create some of her pieces.To see works by Natalie Keller visit nkellerart on Instagram.To see works by Stephanie Myers visit: facebook.com/stephaniemyersart
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Last November UIS Innovate Springfield and the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln hosted a public event titled “The Next Technology Revolution,” which featured, Springfield native and Vice Chairman for equity private markets at Jefferies’ Global Technology Investment Banking Group, Cully Davis.Davis has nearly 30 years of investment banking experience and worked with numerous businesses known for being on the cutting edge of technology including, Google, Groupon, Lyft, Box, Kite Pharma, MicroStrategy, and SunPower to name a few. At this event, Davis shared lessons he’s learned in Silicon Valley and the elements needed to make Springfield the home of the next technology revolution.
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In 2023 the UIS Lunch and Learn Series featured a program about the history of Lake Springfield. Local historian and researcher Curtis Mann spoke to the crowd about the history of Springfield’s water supply which led to the development of Lake Springfield. The program also featured Mark McDonald, who is recognized for his time as host of the Emmy-award winning program “Illinois Stories.” McDonald shared behind-the-scenes stories and what he's doing now that the program has ended.
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Whether you love Bugs Bunny or "Beauty and the Beast," the Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO) will bring the music from animation to the stage at their upcoming concert "Tunes from the Toons!" The performance will be conducted by music director candidate Yaniv Dinur and will feature music you heard in Saturday morning cartoons and animated feature films. The ISO will perform in Springfield, Ill. on Jan. 26 and in Bloomington-Normal on Jan. 27. For more information visit: ilsymphony.org