Rithika speaks with Lindsay Haitz and Gina Johnson, the leaders of Blueprint, to gain a better understanding of the importance of mental healthcare and the variety of creative services they provide.
Posts by Rithika Patnam:
Bringing the theater experience to homes: Chambana Backyard Movies
![Bringing the theater experience to homes: Chambana Backyard Movies](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/screen_shot_2021-09-12_at_8.56.54_pm.png)
Rithika chats with Sha'Tyra Hawkins about her creative idea of bringing the theater experience to personal homes through Chambana Backyard Movies.
Epivara Inc. has created a single-injection alternative to spays and neutering
![Epivara Inc. has created a single-injection alternative to spays and neutering](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/rex_hess.jpg)
Rithika chats with Dr. Rex Hess of Epivara Incorporation at the U of I about the company's revolutionary new technology and the recent $250,000 grant they've received from the National Science Foundation.
Cowboy Monkey is a fun place with great Tex-Mex food
![Cowboy Monkey is a fun place with great Tex-Mex food](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/screen_shot_2021-05-18_at_10.50.01_am-1.png)
Rithika talked with Ava Gomez, an employee at Cowboy Monkey, to learn about all the delicious menu items.
Carle med students are bringing vaccines to underserved communities
![Carle med students are bringing vaccines to underserved communities](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/img_3901_1.jpg)
Rithika talks to Carle medical student Aaron Brown and Charles Burton of Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club to learn more their efforts to provide and promote free vaccinations and health information to all communities.
Maternal and Child Health services at CUPHD strengthen the community
![Maternal and Child Health services at CUPHD strengthen the community](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/www-smilepolitely-com-splog_uploads-22822-cuphd-800x400-1.jpg)
Rithika spoke Valerie Koress, the Community Nutrition Program Coordinator at CUPHD, about some of the overlooked but invaluable resources provided by her division.
Industrial Donut employee shares about cake donuts and working in a donut shop
![Industrial Donut employee shares about cake donuts and working in a donut shop](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/header_donuts.jpg)
Rithika talked with Anna Park about her experiences making some of the most creative donuts in town at Industrial Donut.
Coffee and tiramisu paradise at Caffe Paradiso
![Coffee and tiramisu paradise at Caffe Paradiso](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/caffe_paradiso.jpg)
The daughter of the owner of Caffe Paradiso, Dana Yun, chats about working at Caffe Paradiso and also shares what President Obama ordered when he visited.
40 years of history at Courier Cafe
![40 years of history at Courier Cafe](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/photo1.jpg)
Owner Allen Strong talks about starting the restaurant 40 years ago, his favorite items on the menu, and how COVID-19 affected Courier Cafe.
The rise of Cracked: the egg came first
![The rise of Cracked: the egg came first](https://s51dev.smilepolitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/image_12.jpeg)
Rithika hears stories from founder, Daniel Krause, about the early stages of building the Cracked brand from the ground up.