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Overview
ColorStack is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the number of Black and Latinx Computer Science graduates that go on to start rewarding technical careers. We’re cultivating the largest digital community of its kind to deliver community building, academic support, and career development opportunities at scale. Along with the power that comes with access to such a strong network, also comes the responsibility of upholding the honor code adhered to by all members within the community and at your college/university and place of work. This ensures everyone is respected, valued, and included.
All participants of ColorStack are expected to abide by our Code of Conduct, both online and during in-person events that are hosted and/or associated with ColorStack. We believe in respect, compassion, understanding, and inclusion, and expect all family members to act on these values.
We have no tolerance for any form of harassment; we expect everyone to act professionally and to follow the social norms of the community in our space and during our events both virtual and in person. Violations of the Code of Conduct will be managed by the ColorStack Team, maintained, and may result in removal from the community without an opportunity for questions.
The Pledge
In the interest of fostering an open and welcoming environment, we pledge to make participation in our community a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of age, body size, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, level of experience, nationality, personal appearance, race, religion, or sexual identity and orientation.
The Standards
You Get What You Give. What you put into ColorStack, you will get out of it. Participate in Slack conversations, attend ColorStack events, and regularly give feedback to the ColorStack Team.
Be Powerfully Inclusive. Go out of your way to include and be an ally to others. Use welcoming and inclusive language. Refer to people by their pronouns and use gender-neutral pronouns when uncertain. We strive to create an inclusive and authentic environment where all members of our community can connect and collaborate. We value and respect perspectives and lived identities that are not our own and recognize the intersection of such identities. Regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, parental role, nationality, ethnicity, immigration status, religion, education, or career path, we have your back!
Give Respect & Stay Positive. ColorStack is an intentionally positive community. We celebrate the creativity and contributions of all of our members and the diversity of talent, experience, culture, and opinion they bring to our network. Maintain the positive vibes by being kind, keeping an open mind, staying constructive, uplifting folks' accomplishments, and honoring one another. Disrespect and harassment will not be tolerated and can result in immediate removal from the community.
Each one, Teach one. Always be willing to help where you can. Our mission is to build a community that supports one another. This is accomplished through the sharing of knowledge. The easiest way to give and receive help is through our Slack workspace. Helping others is not only a good practice, but it's highly encouraged for ColorStack members.
Share Stories, not Advice. We don't always know what's best. When someone brings up an issue, it can be tempting and well-meaning to give that person advice. Unfortunately, there can be many downsides to giving direct advice. Basically,
The group value of shared experiences far outweighs the one-directional nature of the specificity of advice.
Advice can be arrogant by implying you know what is best for another individual.
Advice can create division and hurt feelings.
Apologize for Mistakes. It's not worth being right. Should you catch yourself behaving disrespectfully, or be confronted as such, listen intently, own up to your words and actions, and apologize accordingly. No one is perfect, and even well-intentioned people make mistakes. What matters most is how you handle them and that you avoid repeating them in the future.
Uphold Confidentiality. Creating a Safe Place. Due to the sensitive nature of some discussions, please keep what is said in these spaces - whether online or in-person - confidential unless you receive permission otherwise, this includes, but is not limited to, sharing comments and screenshots made by members in the ColorStack Community. Be especially careful to avoid sharing identifying information about members unless you ask the speaker. If there is problematic or illegal behavior occurring within the Slack, or at any ColorStack event please report it to ColorStack staff. The participants of such activity and/or behavior will be immediately removed from the ColorStack community.
Don't Be a Bystander. Keep the peace! If you see someone violating any part of this Code of Conduct, we urge you to dissuade them from such behavior respectfully. Stand up for one another, if one person is negatively affected, it impacts us all collectively. As members of this community, we are all actively engaged champions of the Platinum Rule: "Treat others the way they want to be treated." Sometimes, even after trying to dissuade someone, the behavior may continue, do not get discouraged or let it go. Let a ColorStack Team member know.
If You’re Not Sure, Ask Someone. No, really. Just ask us. We want to encourage open and honest communication. We’d rather hear from you than hear about something you said or did after the fact. We are here to help.
Not For Profit. We want to support you! However, ColorStack is a place to bring together Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students of Computer Science to support each other, not for commercial activities. Of course, there are a few channels dedicated to this activity that you are welcome to join. But we ask that you keep all other channels clear. Of course, if you're an active participant in the community, we want to help you succeed and may allow exceptions. And with that, we reserve the right as leadership to determine if a member is taking more than they are giving and to remove comments or profiles as we see fit. Again, if you aren't sure, ask!
Reporting Violations
Zero Tolerance for dishonest, inappropriate, disrespectful and/or hateful messages and actions. Each of our members plays a role in establishing and promoting a positive, inclusive, and encouraging community. If you experience inappropriate or disrespectful behavior directed toward yourself or anyone else and feel unable to respond or resolve it respectfully yourself, please immediately bring it to the attention of the Community Manager or other ColorStack staff person. We will listen and work to resolve the matter immediately. If the problematic behavior goes beyond something that you are comfortable addressing, is egregious and/or illegal - report it to the ColorStack Community Manager. All hateful or violent posts, comments, discussions, or actions should be reported to the Community Manager or to a ColorStack employee ASAP. A person violating any of these policies may result in removal from Slack and all ColorStack communications. If you experience any issues regarding the Code of Conduct, here are some ways that you can report it to us:
Email Us
Contact Us Anonymously
Enforcement
All reports will be reviewed and investigated and will result in a response that is deemed necessary and appropriate to the circumstances. A staff member will approach anyone identified as participating in harassing behavior and ask to cease any inappropriate activity or to disengage from our community immediately. In cases where there isn't obvious malintent, the authors of those messages will be notified and may be given a chance to modify the message themselves.
Further details of specific enforcement policies may be posted separately.
We hold the right and responsibility to remove comments or other contributions that are not aligned to this Code of Conduct, or to ban temporarily or permanently any members for other behaviors that they deem inappropriate, threatening, offensive, or harmful in and outside of the ColorStack community. This includes but it is not limited to your college/university/place of work community.Respect is essential for everybody so if you feel uncomfortable, or suspect of someone’s behavior, approach one of the organizers and staff members, we will handle it with confidentiality and care.
Consequences
Consequences include but are not limited to:
1. A Strike
ColorStack operates on a three strike system whereby non-suspending violations can result in one or more strikes. Administrators will use their judgment and historical precedent in determining what constitutes a strike. When a member receives three strikes, they will be suspended from ColorStack for a period of time or permanently depending on the violation. Multiple strikes can be assessed depending on the violation.
2. Do Not Contact
A member may not contact (in any fashion, messages or emoji) either publicly or privately other members of the ColorStack Family Slack for a predetermined period of time.
3. Temporary Suspension
A member is suspended from ColorStack for a predetermined period of time. Temporary suspension includes but is not limited to:
Family Slack
Fam Fridays
Stacked Up Summit
Temporary suspension timeframe will vary based on the violation.
4. Permanent Suspension
A member is permanently banned from ColorStack.
Grounds for Removal that can lead to Permanent Suspension from the Community
Dishonesty
Any form of dishonesty that is intended to gain unfair advantage in the community
Furnishing false information to ColorStack Inc. ColorStack Team Members, ColorStack Community Member, or representative
Forgery, alteration, or misuse of a ColorStack resource or identification
Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person within or related to the ColorStack Community, including physical abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, or sexual misconduct virtually or in person.
Encouraging, permitting, or assisting another community member to do any act that could subject them to discipline
Thank you to everyone in the ColorStack community for helping to make our organization respectful and inclusive for all!
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