THE COLOR SPECTRUM MISSION
To share captivating photos of destinations around the world
To convey cross-cultural perspectives through informative articles
To create an online community that shares a passion for travel
HOW DID IT BEGIN?
Hi, I'm Shannen, and I feel most alive when I'm boarding an airplane. In 2009, I traveled outside of the US for the first time, and my life has been forever changed since that moment. As a result, The Color Spectrum Project was born. TCSP is an in-progress art project designed to inspire young persons to travel and participate in cross-cultural interaction.
In 2011, I organized a photography fundraiser exhibit for the University of St. Thomas entitled "Ireland: Beyond Gray | Beyond Green," an artistic theme that urged the audience to view Ireland in a different light, highlighting the colorful and lively perspective of the country. This photo auction fundraiser included images from my travels and was designed to promote interest in study abroad and cross-cultural immersions. In this same sense, I hope to encourage individuals to experience "the color spectrum," the entire range of beauty in the world that exists outside of the box most individuals place themselves in.
The Color Spectrum serves as a space for sharing images collected during meaningful adventures, and a platform to reflect on culture and movement across borders. Over the years, my travels have taken me to 23 different countries, and I’ve had the opportunity for return visits that allowed me to dive even more deeply into each country’s culture. My passion has overflowed into my academic life and inspired me to pursue a master's degree in Cross-Cultural Studies from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. In addition, it has allowed me to study at both Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland, as well as the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. I hope that this project will ignite a passion for travel in you that I have felt since I was a little girl, and that you will choose to join the following too.