Editor and co-host Bea Bonner sat down with Dr. Sara McPherson to explore how the UIC nursing program came to Springfield. UIC and UIS have partnered to allow a greater range of students to engage with healthcare professionals and learn the ropes of what comes with taking care of others. From state-of-the-art training dummies to a realistic learning space, the UIC nursing program has what it needs to help its students decide on a career path in nursing.

The SIU School of Medicine will offer free skin cancer screenings on Thursday, May 25 from 5–7 p.m. at Simmons Cancer Institute on the SIU School of Medicine campus. Dr. Lucinda Buescher spoke to Community Voices about how to protect skin and the differences between skin cancer and melanoma. To register for a free skin cancer screening, call 217-545-6122.

Clean comedy and being nice has served Nate Bargatze well. It brings him to Springfield May 31 and June 1 for the "Be Funny" tour, live at the UIS Performing Arts Center. Nate spoke to Cory Pitt on Community Voices to talk about his career, the pressures of clean comedy, celebrity golf and so much more. Laugh with one of the nation's hottest comedians!

Members of the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership team discuss ranked choice voting (RCV) in Illinois. The potential benefits and challenges of a system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference. This system has gained popularity in recent years based around arguments that it will increase voter choice, promote political moderation, and promote more civil and issue-based campaigns. Evanston voters will use RCV for their local elections beginning in 2025. Other localities here and the Illinois General Assembly are also discussing how ranked choice voting could be utilized in additional races.

Joel Horwedel is the Executive Director of Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center. Joel spoke to Community Voices about the history of LMG and plans for a new children's nature playscape coming to the garden soon. We also learn about Joel's background and what led him to LMG.

The Springfield Choral Society is a 60-person choir of local voices who perform songs from various genres and in multiple languages. Conductor Jacobsen Woolen and choir member Diane Dietz spoke to Community Voices about the experience of singing in a choir. They also shared details about their upcoming concert on May 19.

Dr. Lan Dong is a Professor of English in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. She sat down with Logan Bricker to talk about a myriad of topics, including her well-traveled history in academia, the impact and story of Mulan's legacy, and the way alternate mediums of storytelling do just as good a job at telling a deep and impactful story as any textual work.

Michael Thomas business relationship manager at Express Employment Professionals.

Amy Giles is a central Illinois native, UIS alumni, and owner of Progressive Kenpo Karate. She sat down and spoke with editor and co-host Bea Bonner about the differences between martial arts, their benefits, and the different classes offered at her studio. Whether you're young or old, new blood or old guard, there is a class and community eager to grow and share their passion for the arts of fighting.

Alex Miller is a professor at Millikin University and the founder and executive director of Shakespeare Corrected which stages theatrical productions of Shakespearean plays featuring correctional facility inmates. Miller spoke to Community Voices about how the experience profoundly effects the students who help bring about the productions.