Springfield, Illinois — Community Archive
Every City Has Stories.
Springfield Has Thousands.
The Mosaic Project — SPI is a community storytelling project dedicated to preserving the voices, memories, and moments that have shaped Springfield, Illinois.
From first loves and family traditions to historic events and neighborhood legends, every story becomes part of our shared archive.
Featured Conversation
Justin Blandford: The Stories We Keep
with Justin Blandford: The Stories We Keep
The Mosaic Project | Justin Blandford: The Stories We Keep History is more than dates, buildings, and plaques. It's the stories we choose to remember and the ones we're still learning how to tell. This week, Tony Stang sits down with Justin Blandford, superintendent of Springfield's state historic sites, to talk about some of his memorable projects, the challenges of working with history, and the unexpected moments that come with caring for the places that tell our collective story. Along the way, Justin shares some fascinating behind the scenes stories and reminds us that preserving history isn't simply about protecting the past. It's about helping us better understand the place we call home. Another conversation about the people, places, and stories that make Springfield, Springfield. The Mosaic Project. Archiving moments of humanity.
About the Project
Preserving Springfield One Story at a Time
The Mosaic Project — SPI exists to capture the memories that rarely make it into history books.
Every resident carries stories worth preserving. Through recorded conversations, we create a living archive of life in Springfield, from everyday moments to extraordinary experiences.
These stories become part of a growing collection that future generations can discover, learn from, and remember.
Community Voices
Springfield's Mosaic
View All Episodes →
MS-001-2026
Tiara Standage
2026
Grassroots Community Activist
MS-002-2026
Leah Wilson
Downtown · 2026
Executive Director - Kidzeum
MS-003-2026
OJ Crowder
Downtown · 2026
Mail Carrier
MS-004-2026
Jay Shanle
Downtown · 2026
Executive Director - Downtown Springfield Inc.
MS-005-2026
Kena Bere
2026
Meet Kena Bera! A young attorney working in downtown Springfield, she is dedicating her career to bu
MS-006-2026
Brian Galecki
Downtown + West Side · 2026
Co-Owner - Dumb Records
MS-007-2026
Sunshine Clemmons
2026
Black Lives Matter - Springfield Chapter Leader
MS-008-2026
Bella Szabo
Downtown · 2026
Executive Director - Springfield Area Arts Council
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Geographic Memory
Stories Live in Places
Every story is tied to a location. Explore the memories embedded in Springfield's streets, parks, and buildings.
Latest from the Archive
Recent Episodes
MS-001
Justin Blandford: The Stories We Keep
with Justin Blandford: The Stories We Keep
The Mosaic Project | Justin Blandford: The Stories We Keep History is more than dates, buildings, and plaques. It's the stories we choose to remember and the ones we're still learning how to tell. This week, Tony Stang sits down with Justin Blandford, superintendent of Springfield's state historic sites, to talk about some of his memorable projects, the challenges of working with history, and the unexpected moments that come with caring for the places that tell our collective story. Along the way, Justin shares some fascinating behind the scenes stories and reminds us that preserving history isn't simply about protecting the past. It's about helping us better understand the place we call home. Another conversation about the people, places, and stories that make Springfield, Springfield. The Mosaic Project. Archiving moments of humanity.
MS-002
Megan Stoller | Cancer, Kids, Lice, and the Unexpected Places We Find Purpose
with Megan Stoller | Cancer, Kids, Lice, and the Unexpected Places We Find Purpose
Megan Stoller has a fascinating story. By day, she is a clinical pharmacist specializing in oncology, helping people navigate some of life's most difficult moments. Outside of that work, she is the owner of Springfield Lice Clinic, a business born out of her own unexpected experience as a mom trying to solve a problem. Recently recognized as one of Springfield Business Journal's 2026 Forty Under 40, Megan joins The Mosaic Project to talk about healthcare, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and what happens when you recognize a need in your community and decide to do something about it. From cancer care to head lice, this conversation is about the many ways we care for one another, the unexpected turns our lives take, and the people quietly making Springfield a better place to call home. The Mosaic Project. Archiving Moments of Humanity.
MS-003
Adam Gursk
with Adam Gursk
Adam Gurski | The Mosaic Project What happens when we stop talking about AI in the abstract and start talking about what it means for the people who actually live and work in Springfield? In this episode of The Mosaic Project, Tony sits down with Adam Gurski, a Central Illinois AI educator, consultant and software builder who spends his time helping everyday people, businesses, schools, libraries and community organizations understand what AI can actually do. Adam’s own path into AI began with curiosity around image generation and grew into coding, automation, custom software, websites and practical business applications. He has become known for making AI approachable, demonstrating the technology in real time and helping people move past the hype and into practical questions: What can this actually do? How can it help? What should we be concerned about? Adam recently told NPR Illinois that one of the most useful things AI can do is take information people already have and give it structure, making it easier to understand and use. His work includes everything from helping small businesses automate repetitive tasks to teaching community groups how to use AI for research, writing, organization and creative work. But this conversation is about more than what AI can do. It is about what AI is doing to us. In this episode, Adam joins Ken Pacha for a conversation about the possibilities, questions and concerns surrounding artificial intelligence. They come from different places in the conversation, and they do not agree on everything. But that is exactly why the conversation matters. No gotcha questions. No debate to win. Just two people trying to understand a technology that is changing remarkably fast, and what it might mean for our work, our creativity, our communities and our future. The Mosaic Project Archiving Moments of Humanity.
Community Impact
127
Stories Archived
60+
Years Represented
84
Guests Interviewed
22
Neighborhoods Featured
200+
Hours Recorded
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