Ethọ́s Lab is in the business of fostering self-belief.

“Ayo Ethọ́s!”

Anthonia Ogundele, Executive Director and founder of Ethọ́s Lab, calls out, addressing a room full of teenagers at Microsoft’s R&D campus in Vancouver on February 23^rd, 2024.

There are 150 youth from 14 different Metro Vancouver schools in the room and the energy is high. Everyone is waiting for the organization’s second annual Blackathon to begin.

Ethọ́s Lab is a Black-led, community-centered innovation hub for youth in grades 5 to 12 in Vancouver, BC. Their mission is to empower youth to transform the culture of innovation and emerge as leaders in our societies. To do this, the not-for-profit seeks to increase representation in technology spaces, and they have a unique approach to closing the gap.

“We see the underrepresentation of Black youth in STEM as a cultural problem – not a programming problem,” notes Anthonia, acknowledging the diversity of organizations that offer digital skills training for youth. “However, retention remains an issue – in particular for the Black community.”

“This is endemic of them not being able to find a sense of belonging,” she elaborates. That’s why, at Ethọ́s Lab, educators take a few steps back, and start with the make-or-break step one: youth buy in.

“Part of our ethos is centering the humanity of the Black experience,” shares Anthonia. “That means we create a space where Black youth are reflected, respected, protected, and connected.”

Representation matters. What might feel intangible to a fourteen-year-old – the industries and environments of the working world, where they may or may not see themselves reflected – plays a critical role in shaping how youth envision their futures.

“So, what we do is integrate Black culture in our programming, which is extremely necessary to be able to capture the whole young person… acknowledging the histories that they come from, as well as the culture that is in their contemporary context, to make STEM relevant.”

Then, they add another layer. “At a very technical standpoint, we take an interdisciplinary approach, which means that we also integrate applied arts,” explains Anthonia.

At Ethọ́s Lab, STEM turns into STEAM – design thinking and coding, pitch training and 3D printing – all components taught in tandem, empowering youth to see themselves as creators from idea to output.

“You might be learning how to code and also produce music… or you’re understanding ideation and the creative process by designing a new pair of Air Force Ones.”

And then once a year, they bring everyone together and put it all to the test – that’s Blackathon.

“Ayo Anthonia!” Back at Microsoft Vancouver, the crowd responds to Anthonia’s opening call.

“Blackathon – it’s a Black History hackathon. It’s a cultural celebration of Black innovators,” she exclaims. The result – a wall of sound as cheers echo across the room.

“Blackathon is an immersive experience where you get to celebrate Black history in a hands-on way,” explains Anthonia. It, like all of Ethos Lab’s programming, is built by Black leaders and open to all youth.

The event daylights an innovation from history – something youth are familiar with from everyday life – and the Black creator who invented it. Working in teams, with support from Ethọ́s Lab facilitators and industry mentors, youth then have one day to “hack” history by reimagining the invention for a contemporary context.

The Blackathon launched in 2023, hosting 50 students at the Centre for Digital Media. Microsoft Vancouver supported planning, problem statement design and provided volunteer mentors on the day. Ethos chalked it up as resounding success, with both teachers and students asking for more.

Anthonia set a goal for 2024. Everything was going to be bigger – the idea, the crowd, the impact, and also the prep. Luckily, an old friend was back in town – Eyob Davidoff. With his help, Blackathon would host 150 kids at Microsoft’s downtown Vancouver campus.

Previously an Ethọ́s Lab volunteer facilitator, Eyob has spent the past two years on a full-ride scholarship at Harvard. Half-way through his undergraduate degree in computer science, he decided to take a gap year to reconnect with the organization.

“My mom met Antonia a few years back,” Eyob shares, recalling his first encounter with Ethọ́s Lab when he was still in high school. “There was a racist incident that happened, and a bunch of parents came together… my mom met Anthonia there.”

After being introduced in 2020, shortly after the Ethọ́s Lab launch, Anthonia and Eyob agreed he’d lead their upcoming spring break camp.

The experience helped him unlock a new perspective. “We were going for a tour of Hogan’s Alley,” he shares, remembering his first day on the job. Hogan’s Alley refers to a neighbourhood in East Vancouver that was home to the city’s largest Black and African diaspora community through most of the twentieth century. The community was displaced over decades due to development, most acutely by the construction of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts in 1972.

Anthonia had been involved in the founding of the Hogan’s Alley Land Trust. She led the tour on Eyob’s first day, where he and a group of youth learned about Black history in the city and across the province. Afterwards, they spent a couple hours playing basketball in a park near Science World, just around the corner from Ethọ́s Lab’s current headquarters.

“It was a really fun environment to be in because I’ve coached basketball, I’ve tutored, and I’ve taught. But this was like a fusion of them all.”

Reflecting on that first week, Eyob calls out an often-overlooked aspect in learning – fun. When kids are having fun, it’s a sign they feel free. Ethọ́s Lab understand that this is when confidence develops, and innovation happens.

And it’s with this mindset that Eyob set to work. Ethọ́s Lab hired him as their Interim Lab Manager, responsible for piloting several programs – and collaborating with youth stakeholders and partners from Microsoft Vancouver on Blackathon 2024.

Kennedy Mumo, Software Engineer 2 for Xbox’s Cloud Gaming organization, and Chair of the Vancouver Africans at Microsoft Employee Resource Group (ERG) chapter was the first to join the Blackathon team.

“I came in just as we were starting to figure out the problem statement,” remembers Mumo. “One of the things that really got me grounded was meeting Eyob,” he notes, recalling their first meeting at Microsoft Vancouver a few months earlier. “That’s rare, right… to come in and find someone who is so young but has such clarity of vision. And I think for me, it was just about making sure that I could help him.”

The team had selected the Fairchild Channel F console (short for Channel Fun) – the first-ever console to have a videogame cartridge system – and its creator, Gerald “Jerry” Lawson, as the event’s inspiration. Released in 1976, this was the first model that allowed users to create a personalized collection of games. Jerry was one of few Black technology leaders working in Silicon Valley at the time, and his invention completely revolutionized the gaming industry.

With Mumo in, we tapped The Garage to for hack expertise. An internal program that drives Microsoft’s culture of innovation, they deliver programs and experiences to employees, customers, and ecosystem that drive collaboration, creativity, and experimentation, including Microsoft’s annual Global Hackathon.

John Westworth, Garage Program Director, had just transferred from Redmond to Vancouver when Eyob and Mumo were ramping up planning.

“I knew about the event before I started,” recalls John. “It’s one of the things that made me want to move to Vancouver.”

“We came to the realization that the hack was about finding a way to democratize the distribution of fun. And that’s the moment where something just clicked,” shares Mumo. From there, all the details fell into place. Materials were sourced, the problem statement crystallized, and Ethọ́s Lab youth members partnered with Vancouver Garage Lab Manager, Cody Church, to design custom stickers and bespoke prizes for the three finalist teams, and an epic first place trophy.

Collectively, their goal was to ensure that staff, volunteers, and mentors fostered an environment that empowered youth to show up on the day as their full, authentic selves.

Anthonia set the tone by inviting Karen Lawson, daughter of Gerald Lawson, on stage to deliver the 2024 Blackathon’s keynote speech.

“Ayo Ethọ́s,” announces Karen, as she grabs the mic. “I’m here to talk to you today because it’s important to shine a light on people who have created things that look like you.”

“Repeat after me,” she says, “I am me. I belong. I am me. I belong.” Karen’s opening message to students resonated throughout the room as the youth called back to her.

Throughout her life, she’s been an athlete, a student, and an educator. Today, she’s the co-founder of and creative partner at the Gerald Lawson Foundation.

“I want to educate and inspire each one of you to find your inner Jerry Lawson,” offers Karen. And what does that mean? “I want you to be able to connect to what you’re passionate about and follow your dreams.”

Anthonia had been introduce to Karen and the Gerald Lawson Foundation a year before. “The big thing that drew me to Karen, and to Jerry Lawson, was the absolute relevance. Kids interact with gaming every single day,” exclaims Anthonia. “You would not be able to play your Xbox the way you know it without Gerald Lawson and his invention!”

In distilling what it is that Ethọ́s Lab offers to their youth members, the operative word is self-belief.

“For Karen to come in and reinforce that that they belong there was huge,” states Anthonia, recounting feedback from teachers and administrators during the event who shared their excitement at seeing so many students who struggle with confidence and engagement at school step into leadership roles in their teams. Following the event, educators and students kept asking for more, and Ethọ́s Lab staff are now composing a version that they’ll deliver to a variety of schools in the Greater Vancouver area throughout the rest of the year.

“Often, it’s already inside of them,” Anthonia shares. “What Ethọ́s Lab programming does, including the Blackathon, is create a condition where they’re able to get outside of their comfort zone, but feel supported in getting there.”

John agrees, referencing how supporting employees in learning new skills in the Microsoft Garage foster the behaviors that lead to innovation.

“Things like thinking creatively, being willing to be wrong, willing to experiment, just wanting to learn rather than having to know stuff.” He notes. “Really, I think my job is to make them believe in themselves.”

On Blackathon event day, over 20 developers from across Microsoft Vancouver were in the room to do one job: empower the youth to achieve more.

“I did research on Ethọ́s Lab. And it was really interesting to find out that the founder has Nigerian roots, because I’m originally from Nigeria,” shares Somi, Senior Engineer in Microsoft’s Security organization, who signed up as a volunteer mentor. “Their mission aligned with my personal interests and goals, because I typically look for opportunities to bring diversity and inclusion into STEM.”

Through partners like Ethọ́s Lab, and events like the Blackathon, employees can embody Microsoft’s core values and experience our mission statement live in action. And in turn, expand their own understanding of our industry’s history.

Going into the day, most of our mentors had never heard of Jerry Lawson. This was true for Somi, who grew up in Nigeria and treasures memories of swapping video game cartridges with her friends as some of her fondest. “Having Karen with us was such a blessing,” recalls Somi, “I got to really understand who was responsible for such a key moment in my childhood.”

“It’s important to demonstrate to young people that continuous learning is necessary and that it happens at all stages and ages,” shares Anthonia. “And so having Microsoft mentors who are there to be in it with the young people, learning alongside, discovering Jerry Lawson at the Blackathon and other amazing Black inventors… it opens up space for the young people to do that as well.”

“It was so amazing. I went back to my team and said, ‘guys, guys, guys! You’ve got to know about this hackathon that I participated in on Friday’,” Somi excitedly remembers. “And now I’m actually building a deck to share learnings with my small team.”

This concept supports the foundation of our partnership with Ethọ́s Lab which has been ongoing since their inception in 2019 and is reciprocal in nature.

“The interaction with Microsoft employees – having them come in, connect with Ethọ́s Lab staff, connect with the youth… really exposes the youth to the possibilities,” expresses Domunique Lashay, Ethọ́s Lab Communications Manager, reflecting on the macro and micro co-creation processes that Blackathon offers.

Eyob agrees. High school, extra curriculars, and college applications weren’t that long ago for him, and he relates deeply to the choices, risks, and opportunities his younger peers have ahead of them.

“In just a few hours, we saw youth building relationships with folks who are in the careers that we want to expose them to,” notes Eyob.

“Getting that time with someone who, in my head, had better things to do and hearing you are important, and you are worth their time…” It’s what he found in discovering Ethọ́s Lab, and he stresses the importance of opening up more opportunities for Black youth to make these kinds of connections.

One team is already building on the connections they made. AfroLingo is a multiplayer game that enables users to learn different traditional African languages. Following the event where they won second place, the team’s members, Yosan, Anita, Alexandra, Priscilla, and Tonfunmi, spent some time with John learning about how an idea becomes at product at Microsoft. He was one of the event’s judges and recognized the potential for impact in their pitch.

Over the past three months, the team has been connected with additional leaders from different disciplines across Microsoft’s global network.

Dimeji Onafuwa – Principal UX Research Manager from Microsoft’s Charlotte, NC campus – coached the team on research, while the Bay Area’s Shawn Harrison and Redmond’s Yaw Amoatang provided complimentary guidance from the design and product management perspectives.

“We’re exposing them to people with years of experience in both success and failure,” notes John. “From learning about the creative tensions between different disciplines, to the importance of data driven decision making, well-rounded mentorship is one of the most effective ways to accelerate a growth mindset.”

“Memory has a really strong way of carrying people into their careers,” commentes Anthonia. “To be able to give that opportunity, not just to participate in Blackathon, but to enter a space they may not have imagined themselves in, and to plant the seed that they have been here before… someone might remember, there was that time that I went to Microsoft – let me go see if there’s an opportunity there.”

“To go from 50 kids in a room at Center for Digital Media to Microsoft Vancouver with 150 kids was really, really awesome,” shares Anthonia, reflecting on the experience of scaling Blackathon by 200% in just one year.

“Last year, I was one of the judges and this year I volunteered,” notes Mary Lou, one of four Ethọ́s Lab members recently awarded with the RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Black youth. She’s been an Ethọ́s Lab member since 2020 and after graduating high school, she transitioned to volunteering.  “I love how the event has evolved, and I loved seeing people so invested.”

What’s next will be even bigger.

“What we’re trying to do is create a network of innovation hubs – spaces of creation – where all youth are able to come together, create and make amazing new things,” states Anthonia. Moving forward, she envisions a constellation of Ethọ́s Labs in cities across Canada, and one day North America.

“Microsoft has been very reciprocal in opening up the doors,” comments Anthonia. “For us to be able to come in and engage with leaders in this space, and to brainstorm organizational challenges. I think it’s absolutely huge.”

Partnerships with industry leaders that provide both resources and relationships create capacity for organizations like Ethọ́s Lab to scale in both breadth and depth. “If we want to see any sort of significant changes in the future, that really center equity and ensure that tech spaces are representative of the communities they serve, co-creation is absolutely necessary.”

As the winning team from last year’s Blackathon announced the third, second and first place winners, all 150 youth burst into a singalong from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton.

“In many African cultures, call and response is a really important thing,” shares Anthonia, reflecting on wrapping up the 2024 Blackathon. “It grounds us and connects us all together.”

“Ayo Ethọ́s!”

In the room, Anthonia calls out once more, quieting the crowd. She’s was recently named BC Business’ Women of the Year’s Equity and Inclusion Champion, but she’s looking ahead, focused on the next generation of technologists and leaders.

“Ayo Anthonia!”

They call back to close out the day, celebrating together. Each one of them is gleaming with pride and excitement for the future. They know they will play a part in shaping it.

Why? Because Ethos Lab is in the business of fostering self belief.