We Are Ethọ́s Lab

We’re on a mission to increase representation in Innovation

We need young, diverse voices co-creating a brighter and inclusive future that better reflects our humanity. Will you join us in a mission to build towards a future that is inclusive for all

The World is Changing Faster Than Ever. We’re Here To Build A Future That Includes And Reflects Everyone. Ethọ́s Lab is A Non-Profit Innovation Academy For Teens Based In Vancouver, BC and Accessible From Anywhere.

Tackling the challenges of today, for a better tomorrow.

Meet the diverse needs of youth today

To get more diversity, we need to generate awareness and redefine what a “S.T.E.A.M person” is, which requires creativity and using the understanding of different cultures as a vehicle to contextualize S.T.E.A.M learning in unique ways youth can identify with.

Addressing a cultural problem.

A sense of belonging is critical in building confidence and courageousness in trying new things and persisting through difficult tasks. A holistic community-based approach to teaching S.T.E.A.M is essential to building a culture of inclusion.

Making a real impact on improving inequality

Increasing representation and diversity requires long-term vision linking program design to have clear links to post-secondary admissions and skills that will aid in employment.

Collaboration is key in order to scale the impact. Become an Ethọ́s Lab Partner

Become A Partner

An accessible ecosystem of like-minded organizations committed to increasing representation is a first step in scaling this sense of belonging and creating a community that builds towards a future that is inclusive of all.

We work with different organizations, leading experts, and top brands to deliver best in class programs through weekly workshops, interactive events, mentorship, internships, and field trips.

If you are an expert, professional, or organization with programming or activation ideas we’d love to hear from you. Will you join us in building towards an inclusive future for all?

Collaboration is key in order to scale the impact. Become an Ethọ́s Lab Partner

An accessible ecosystem of like-minded organizations committed to increasing representation is a first step in scaling this sense of belonging and creating a community that builds towards a future that is inclusive of all.

We work with different organizations, leading experts, and top brands to deliver best in class programs through weekly workshops, interactive events, mentorship, internships, and field trips.

If you are an expert, professional, or organization with programming or activation ideas we’d love to hear from you. Will you join us in building towards an inclusive future for all?

Become A Partner

Meet Our Team

Click on each team member to learn more about them

Founder & Executive Director

Anthonia Ogundele

As a trained planner and resilience professional, Anthonia Ogundele has a passion for cities and engaging communities. She was a member of the North East False Creek Stewardship Committee, igniting the re-imaging of Hogan's Alley. In 2016 she turned a storefront facing closet into the Cheeky Proletariat, located on Carrall street, which is an accessible and inclusive space for the free expression of all people.

She holds a Bachelor of Social Science and a certificate in Governance and Public Policy from the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Environmental Studies, Urban Planning from the University of Waterloo.

She recently left her role at Vancity Credit Union, as the Manager of Environmental Sustainability, Business Continuity, and Emergency Planning to become the Founder of the Ethọ́s Lab, a non-profit - an innovative and collaborative hybrid learning environment for youth ages 12-18, that fosters community and STEM-focused exploration through an anti-oppressive lens. In doing so Anthonia also launched Canada’s first Black-led virtual reality environment. She was recently honored with the City of Vancouver’s Black History Month Community Leader Award while being recognized as one of Canada’s top 5 Black tech founders to watch in 2021.

Through Ethọ́s Lab she is hoping to inspire a legacy of Black leadership as well as answer the question: "What might place/Space making look like when you center the Humanity of the Black experience?"
She lives in East Van with her amazing husband and ever-curious 14-year-old daughter. In her spare time, you might catch her playing a game of Catan with her family or swimming laps at her local pool.

Community Manager

Christine Spencer

Christine loves meeting new people and learning new things! She was an enthusiastic high school science teacher for 10 years, and is grateful to be able to bring that excitement to Ethos. She likes to play games and do puzzles, especially with her family - from VR adventures to Sudoku to dominoes...and everything in between. She even started making mobile games with her husband, the programmer. When she’s not at home gaming, she’s out singing with her choir or keeping fit at Zumba. She's ready to show you around Ethos!
Program Manager

Nigel Amenu-Tekaa

Nigel is thrilled about being a part of the team at Ethọ́s Lab; empowering those he works with, especially young people, is at the core of what drives him as an educator. His combined passions for technology, imagination, culture, social and environmental justice are what set the stage for helping those in their teens cultivate their innovation and engagement within the communities in which they live.

Nigel is from ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᕀ (amiskwaciy, Edmonton) and a graduate from the University of Alberta with degrees in Kinesiology and Education as a Golden Bear Football alumnus. He taught and played Rugby in Kuwait for a year after graduating and taught and coached football for several years (Edmonton Huskies of the Canadian Junior Football League; various high schools) upon his return. Nigel currently teaches in the Vancouver School Board with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) lens and anti-racist focus.

His reconciliation with childhood aspirations of becoming an illustrator and making video games has reconnected him with lost interests and hobbies; which entail a fond appreciation for all things “retro” – music, games, cartoons, etc. Embracing his interests of old naturally steered him to reflect on both Black and pop culture growing up and shape his understanding of what it is to be a biracial person, identified as Black. The opportunity to share, role model, learn, teach and connect with others through Ethọ́s Lab is how Nigel feels he and the team can be impactful in growing the community we all live in and strengthen feelings of interconnectedness among us all.

Marketing Director

Gill Co

All things Marketing— that’s Gill! Instead of finding a Computer Science role after completing her CS Degree, Gill decided turned to her passion of dance, opening Calgary’s first Hip-Hop Dance studio. Learning all of the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur Gill found herself building a Marketing career. Most recently a Marketing Manager at Red Bull Canada, she has turned her sights as a freelancer in supporting organizations in uncovering the opportunities to shape their digital future within the Meteverse and web3.0.
Program Outreach Coordinator

Sola Olowo-Ake

Sola, a dynamic and creative designer, hails from the vibrant Ogun State but grew up in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria. Now based in Vancouver, Canada, she brings her unique inter-disciplinary approach to design, drawing inspiration from her Yorùbá heritage and employing playful yet professional methods to tell her stories.
Program Director

Kudzaishe Chitima

Kudzi grew a passion for STEAM outreach to youth through working with UBC's Geering Up as a Civil Engineering student. After graduating, she began her project management career within the STEAM programming field and is excited to be a part of the Ethọ́s Lab team. Through Ethos Lab, she hopes to coordinate experiences she didn't have access to growing up.
Program Curator & Coordinator

Jazz Groden-Gilchrist

Meet Jazz, a talented black comic artist and illustrator hailing from Vancouver, Canada. Represented by Jennifer Azantian of Azantian Literacy Agency, Jazz is currently immersed in the exciting process of developing "YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER" for a graphic novel pitch.
Contrary to any whimsical rumors, Jazz is not a bundle of sentient dreadlocks inhabiting a human form solely to sketch comics and embark on Dungeons and Dragons escapades. That notion is simply the stuff of fantasy.
Jazz leads our youth leadership group the GRIOTs and facilitates the artistic, visual and art direction of Atlanthos in addition to leading many of our in-school and outreach programs.

What The Headlines Are Saying

If you believe in our mission, are collaborative and impact driven, we’re looking for you. We’ve been looking for you.

Join Us