Shades of Colorado Springs

Celebrate our city's diversity at the 4th Annual Shades of Colorado Springs festival, featuring jazz, reggae, blues, gospel, R&B, hip hop, and African drumming from headline acts Dotsero, Mary Louise Lee Band, Taylor M.A.D.E., Phat Horn Doctors and DJ TT Wizard Too Hot! Beyond music, the festival features a car show, fashion show, crafts for kids, international food and more. 

Shades of Colorado Springs (SCS) is also a nonprofit that provides up to ten $500 scholarships annually based upon financial need. Applicants are required to complete and submit our standard Statement of Need and to submit their most recent high school or college transcript. Applications are screened and reviewed by the SCS Scholarship Committee twice annually.  Enrolled undergraduate college students must be residents of the Colorado Springs metro area, although they may be enrolled in any college or university, are eligible for our scholarships. SCS Scholarship may only be used for books and supplies.  Applicants must provide verification of their enrollment through the college's Registrar and confirm the amount needed for books and supplies based upon their current class enrollment. .Scholarship application may only be submitted during August and January of each year.  In order to be eligible for subsequent SCS scholarships, recipients are required to provide verification of a grade of "B" or above for classes they previously received our scholarship for.

Shades of Colorado Springs Cultural Scholarship will provide up to $1,000 to cover registration fees for youth and their parents (ages 5 to 17) to attend  cultural activities and programs within Colorado geared toward increasing and enhancing their level of Cultural Competence. Parents are required to submit our standard Statement of Need and a written statement describing how the desired cultural activity or program is expected to increase or enhance the cultural competence of their child. Families may apply for two SCS Cultural Scholarships annually.

Contact us to learn more about how to support SCS Cultural Scholarships or stop by Trends of Africa during the festival!