Shannon Jo Murphy                      
Contributed Photo                      

As managing editor of Guampedia Shannon says the project is there, “To preserve Guam history and Chamorro culture; to educate ourselves and the world on Guam's history and Chamorro culture; and to provide access to this data we collect through the Internet. This work has several target audiences: 1) teachers to help provide them material to teach with; 2) students obviously; 3) the national and international media so they can report accurately about Guam; 4) potential investors to Guam; 5) potential visitors to Guam, and of course, 6) all the rest of us!”

She said work began in June 2002 with many behind the scenes activities starting with but not limited to developing the outlines of what will be in the website, software design for data management and gathering community support. That completed, Shannon says they have applied for a NEH grant that will allow them to hire staff in April of 2004 to begin writing of articles and edit.

“The funding base of the grant is the National Endowment of the humanities for a total of $600,000 that will cover expenses of hiring reporters and editors for the first two years and they can re-apply after that if there is need. The grant process requires a matching portion of $100,000 and allows for some in-kind support,” said Shannon.

Quoting the following paragraph from Guampedia website an online encyclopedia has been a lacking source of information about Guam, its people and resources; an important link to gapping the void of information available on Guam to the rest of the world. “The lack of such a source has led to uninformed stereotypes about the island and its people. Such stereotypes deprive Guam’s indigenous people of their long and fascinating heritage, sometimes even affecting U.S. and global decisions as they relate to Guam. This lack also affects the many peoples who now consider Guam their home. Guampedia is intended to help close these knowledge gaps…Encyclopedia users will be able to navigate the entire encyclopedia at will, exploring subject areas and histories with their imaginations. ….Guampedia will provide students, residents and people around the world with an up to date local source of information about the island that will greatly supplement existing written sources. It will always be a work in progress, updated regularly as events unfold.”

For more information on Guampedia visit their site at http://www.guampedia.com or leave a message for Shannon Murphy at the Guam Humanities Council 646-4461.

Shannon Jo Murphy is the managing editor of Guampedia, an online Guam Encyclopedia/Ensaiklopidi’an Guahan project funded through grants from the National Endowment of the Arts and the Guam Humanities Council in cooperation with the University of Guam. The project is currently a work in progress and is being developed by Hehehaha!, a local software development company.

In addition to Guampedia, Shannon has an enormous task as co-executive director of the Ayuda Foundation in charge of Guam and Common Wealth of the Mariana Island programs including Island Girl Power, Reach out ad Read (an early literacy program at Guam Community Health Centers) and the HIV/AIDS Training. Ayuda has several other programs related to improving health care in the region; Carlotta Leon Guerrero is the other co-executive in charge of the medical missions for Micronesia which includes sending doctors, medicine, medical equipment from the US and Guam to Micronesia.

 Before we discussed the Guampedia project, I took the opportunity to interview the personal side of Shannon Murphy, daughter of the emeritus editor of the Pacific Daily News, and author the column Pipe Dreams, Joe Murphy.

Shannon spoke of growing up as the daughter of a newspaper editor in the mainland and of her father’s search for better employment in the newspaper business to obtain a good salary to provide for his growing family. The family followed the newspaper man wherever work was available; a practice that eventually lead them to Agat, Guam. Shannon was named after her father and as it turned out, she followed his steps and worked at the Pacific Daily News for years before moving on to the legislature as former Senator Carlotta Leon Guerrero's Chief of Staff.

Shannon spoke of life in Agat, immersed in village life bundled with all the trappings of a southern community back in the 60’s. She spoke of a time when windows and doors remained unlocked and togetherness dictated the culture. Gatherings were customary at the Murphy home, and the village participated in the active supervision of the Murphy children. Shannon shares details of what it was like growing up on Guam and how as far as they were concerned, there was only one village on the island – Agat.

Shannon Jo has three grown children: 

Ana Babauta and her boyfriend, Jason Respicio, have one child, Isabella (born Oct. 4).

Shannon enjoys being a grandmother and encourages her grandchildren to express themselves through performing arts helping them to coordinate video production. She helps the children from a technical standpoint, but the kids make all the decisions; the story line, casting, script and practice of course require the gathering of the cast at Grandma’s house. It’s a sure way of keeping the kids busy, thinking and having fun and exciting things to do when visiting grandma.

Shannon is also enjoying her new life with husband Robert Wescom. They married on Dec. 28, 2001.

Contributed Photo
Wedding Day December 28, 2001: Robert Wescom & Shannon Murphy
(L-R) Donna Babauta (mother of Chloe & Rain) Chris Barnett, Katrina Barnett, (daughter Samantha in front), Robert & Shannon, Eva Babauta (Chloe in front), Leo Babauta (carrying Rain) Ana Babauta and Jason Respicio. Since the picture was taken Dec. 28, 2001, grandson Lennon (Katrina and Chris) and granddaughter Isabella (Ana and Jason) were born.