The word “Renaissance” derives from French, meaning rebirth.
The historical Renaissance, for which our community was named, was a movement of awakening and revitalization, marking the end of medieval stagnation, an embrace of progress, and the ultimately the rebirth of society.
While birth doesn’t necessarily imply intent, rebirth always does. When ideas are born, it’s often by accident. A child has no choice in her own birth. But “rebirth” is the very opposite: to be “reborn” is to make a conscious choice, a deliberate effort, to alter a current state in a notable way.
Members of Renaissance Collective join because they, too, are navigating periods of rebirth. And as members explore tech careers and transitions, Renaissance Collective strives to enable professional rebirth, by building bridges of access and creating space for all backgrounds. We exist because we believe that outsiders, and those seeking new professional lives, belong in the tech industry.
We, the members of Renaissance Collective, are bereaved by the state of the world and the senseless loss of Black lives. We will fight for indisputable equality, and the eradication of prejudice in all its forms — hatred, privilege, indifference, and bias, both conscious and unconscious. We recognize that racism is not only an individual’s state of mind but an institutional machinery. Black lives suffer from systemic injustice and widespread exclusion. We consider it part of our responsibility to be part of the solution.
A concept associated with the Renaissance is Renaissance Humanism: the belief that it is our responsibility to live ethical, fulfilling lives that aspire to the greater good. Humanism derives from the Latin humanitas, meaning: “human nature, civilization, and kindness.” At Renaissance Collective, we believe the world is in need of profound humanitas, and the way to combat pain and injustice is to love and fiercely embrace our shared humanity. But there cannot simply be empathetic language; this is a moment for conscious rebirth. The pain of the status quo has resulted, for many of us, in paralysis. As individuals, as a community, and as a country, our shared grief must be the impetus for change through action. We will create paths for greater inclusion and equity.
The Renaissance Collective stands with the Black community. We will create space to listen and bear witness to their pain. We will fight in the way we know best: building bridges and extending trust. We exist to champion the outsiders, and we believe that things tend to strengthen and expand from the outskirts: cities, borders, ideas, movements. We understand that diversity strengthens our network, that it is a privilege to include diverse perspectives. Our enduring mission to create access to the tech industry can only succeed by redoubling our efforts to support and include Black members.
As a community we will create space for Black voices to be heard, supported, and included. Our rebirth must support our humanitas: our nature, communities, and kindness.