Vanessa Ferguson

Jim Cummings has had a legendary career in voice acting, bringing to life countless iconic characters and creating hundreds of unforgettable voices. Recently, the Beyond the Mouse crew had the incredible opportunity to sit down with him to discuss the longevity of his career, his journey into voice acting, where he draws inspiration for new voices, and much more. It was an amazing conversation, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Kevin Veara is a new member artist at Perspectives Art Gallery in Petersburg. He spoke to Community Voices about his passion for nature and his process of painting birds using vibrant colors and geometric patterns. Veara will be featured in an upcoming exhibit at the Perspectives Art Gallery on Feb. 15-22. The opening reception is on Feb. 15, from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. with an artist talk at 2:00 p.m. For more information about Veara and his exhibit visit: https://perspectivesartgallery.com/product-category/kevin-veara/To visit Veara’s website visit: https://www.kevinveara.com/

The Chatham Area Public Library hosts an annual murder mystery fundraiser, and this March marks the 25th time there’s been a murder in the library. Library Director Amy Byers and playwright Ryan Byers spoke to Community Voices about the fundraiser and how it helps contribute to the programming provided at the library. Ryan Byers also shared how he writes a zany, original script each year.The murder mystery will take place at 7 p.m. on March 14-15 at the Chatham Area Public Library. For more information or for tickets visit: https://www.chathamlib.org/murder-mystery

Nancy Cole is an actor who has performed on several stages in Central Illinois, but she’s also made appearances in commercials, independent films and in the backgrounds of several TV series. She spoke to Community Voices about the behind-the-scenes of background acting and her experience on the set of the HBO Max series “Somebody Somewhere.”

Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s business incubator, hosts a speaker series, called Founders, Failure and Fun, which features lessons from entrepreneurs. In December, Brandon Yates spoke to a crowd at Innovate Springfield about his experience as the cofounder and CEO of DeepWalk, a company that uses scanning software to assist with ADA compliance of sidewalks. He shared the challenges of starting a business and how the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provided the ideal environment to start a company.

Every year Illinois Women in Leadership gives out the Athena Award to a woman who exemplifies a commitment to mentoring other women. Heather Burton spoke to Community Voices about the award and the process to submit a nomination. She also shared the importance of mentoring and how to get involved with the organization.For more information about nominations for the Athena Award visit: https://www.iwil.biz/

The Standardized Patient Program, which is replicated at medical schools across the country, originated at SIU School of Medicine. Dr. Amelia Frank spoke to Community Voices about the program. She explained how this program uses trained individuals to simulate real patient scenarios, helping future doctors develop their clinical skills. Dr. Frank also explained the process of becoming a standardized patient, the importance of continued learning for doctors and the various methods they employ to stay current in their field.For more information on the Standardized Patient Program visit: https://www.siumed.edu/oec/sp/become-standardized-patient

Looking at the land known as New Philadelphia, it may be difficult to image its once thriving community. However, the land is an important part of Illinois history. It became part of the national park service in 2022, as it holds the legacy of Free Frank McWorter, who was born into slavery but managed to purchase freedom for himself and his family. Interim President of the New Philadelphia Association Gerald McWorter and incoming board member Brian Mitchell spoke to Community Voices about New Philadelphia, its founder and what’s in store for the national park.

While many might think the Harlem Globetrotters hail from New York, their roots actually belong to Chicago’s South Side. The team was founded by Jewish immigrant Abe Saperstein, a man whose incredible foresight led to a shake up in the world of sports and a legacy enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Matthew and Mark Jacob, brothers and authors of the book “Globetrotter: How Abe Saperstein Shook Up the World of Sports,” spoke to a crowd at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in January about Saperstein and his instrumental role in basketball and baseball.

Dr. Jessica Ostermeier is the owner of Ball-Chatham Veterinary Services. She spoke to Community Voices about her practice that focuses on creating a calm environment for anxious pets. She also shared how she’s hoping to help students entering a career in veterinarian medicine and how pet owners can use preventative measures to keep their furry friends healthy and happy.For more information about Ball-Chatham Veterinary Services visit: https://www.ballchathamvet.com/