Paul Couston is the co-founder of Ascent Integrated Tech, which enhances firefighter safety by providing critical information about team location, health and environment during firefighting. He spoke with Director of Innovate Springfield Ben Hage for the series titled "Founders, Failures & Fun." He shared what it's like at a startup company, how to pitch to investors and how to meet customers' needs. For more about Innovate Springfield visit: https://www.uis.edu/innovation

Dr. Deborah Brothers of Lincolnland Community College talks banned books, and a special event at LLCC Sept. 25.

Priyanka Deo is the new UIS Director of Student Media. She spoke to Community Voices about her experience as a journalist in India, how she uses digital media to reach young people and her plans for the student-ran paper at UIS.

Illinois Women in Leadership (IWIL) will host its annual symposium on Sept. 25. IWIL members Jen Bettis and Sarah Brewer spoke to Community Voices about the organization and what is slated for the symposium.For more information visit: https://www.iwil.biz/

The World Affairs Council of Central Illinois will host Ambassador Daniel Fried at their upcoming Sept. 25 meeting. The public is welcome to attend the presentation titled "Poland: An In-Depth Conversation." Ambassador Fried spent more than forty years in the Foreign Service and played a key role in designing and implementing American policy in Europe after the fall of the Soviet Union. WACCI President Joyce Nardulli spoke to Community Voices about the presentation and why it's important for the public to know about foreign affairs.For more information visit: https://mywacci.org/

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum provides a number of ways for community members to be involved including their volunteer program. Director of Volunteer Services Jeremy Carrell and Volunteer Services Manager Melissa Blankestyn spoke to Community Voices about the importance of volunteers at the museum, their responsibilities, and their new VolunTEENS program which piloted this summer. They also talk about the training sessions the museum will be offering for new volunteers this fall.

The Citizens Club of Springfield held a meeting on Aug. 23, which featured CEO of the YMCA of Springfield Angie Sowle. Sowle shared her personal history with the YMCA, how the organization reaches out to the community, and how the YMCA of Springfield will celebrate 150 years in the community.

The field of Medical Laboratory Science is facing a critical staffing shortage in the Springfield area community. Dr. Andrea Jensen, Program Director and Assistant Professor of Medical Laboratory Science program at UIS, spoke to Community Voices about the new bridge program at UIS created to address this shortage.

Max Beckman talks about his appearance at Sept. 13 UIS Date Night event and his music with Waxwell Weckman and others. The Date Night performance will feature an electric bass quintet in a way you might not imagine.

The Lifespan of a Fact is a 2018 Broadway play based on a book of the same name co-written by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal. The play surrounds an essayist and fact-checker as they grapple with the distinction between fact and truth. Actors Jakob Hankins and Laura Briggs spoke to Community Voices about the importance and timeliness of the show, which will run Sept. 26-29 in the Studio Theater at UIS.