Erin Burneson is a recent recipient of the Illinois Jaycees Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois awards, and she was listed as an Outstanding Young American by Junior Chamber International USA. Originally from Williamsville, she now lives in India and works in the field of sustainable development. She founded studio Rachanā, which works with others “to catalyze creativity for social and environmental impact and to collaboratively solve complex humanitarian problems.” She spoke to Community Voices about her interest in Indian culture, her experience working with rural Indian women to upcycle waste and what she learned while helping refugees learn English.

Hoogland Center for the Arts production of Sweeney Todd is coming up just in time for the Halloween season. The musical tells the story of Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber who returns to London seeking vengeance against the judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Sweeney to Mrs. Lovett, the crafty owner of a failing pie shop above which he opens a new barber practice. Local vocal teacher Stephanie Myre is portraying Mrs. Lovett in this production. She spoke to Community Voices about being a performer in Chicago and about the message behind Sweeney Todd. Find tickets and dates for the show here.

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO) begins its 2024-2025 season with “Festive Fanfare.” The concert, conducted by ISO music director Taichi Fukumura, will feature Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, Coleridge-Taylor's Violin Concerto with violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, and Dvořák's Symphony No. 8.The ISO performs in Springfield on Friday Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. and in Normal on Saturday Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information visit: ilsymphony.org

Indigenous People’s Day is a holiday that’s been increasingly recognized by more states and more Americans, but it has yet to become a federal holiday and replace Columbus Day, which has been the subject of criticism in recent years. Two local teachers Michelle Cruz Hine and Emily Anderson have spoken out about removing Columbus Day from the Springfield Public School District 186 calendar. They spoke to Community Voices about the problematic history of Christopher Columbus, the history of the Taino people and the values they want to see celebrated in American culture.

Michael Sullivan is an attorney living in Springfield. Sullivan was the Deputy Prosecutor in the Prosecutor’s Office in Indianapolis and was previously the Senior Assistant Public Defender for Sangamon County. He spoke to Community Voices about Miranda Rights, what it is really like inside a courthouse and his internship at the White House.

Jerry Nowicki and Jennifer Fuller of Capitol News Illinois discuss how the organization started helping replace the loss of print statehouse reporting and how they have expanded into providing multimedia news coverage to supplement government coverage in Illinois media.

In September NPR Morning Edition’s Steve Inskeep spoke at the Mary and James Beaumont Endowed Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series, presented by the UIS Center for Lincoln Studies. Author of the book “Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America,” Inskeep shared insight into Lincoln and the lessons we can apply to today’s political climate.

“How Women Made Music,” a new book from NPR Music, was inspired by NPR’s “Turning The Tables” series and collects more than 50 years of essays and interviews. NPR Music’s Ann Powers and editor of the book Alison Fensterstock spoke to Community Voices about how the book was put together and the impact women have made in the evolution of music.

Kate Schwartz (formerly known as Mark Schwartz) is a central Illinois musician who has recorded over 40 albums under her own name and with bands End Times Trio, Forest Saints, Tin Ghost, Demons on Wheels, and collaborations like Petulant Clark. Kate shares how she recently transitoned and how she facillitates a trans support group at the Phoenix Center.

Richard Kyte is a professor, author, and national expert on third places. Third places refer to places outside of home and work where people socialize. Kyte spoke to Community Voices about the importance of third places, how they've shifted over time, and about his new book Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way). Rick also talks about how to find and create third places in our society today.