Kwende (Memetic Media) is an advisor and the research lead to the Shared Ground initiative, helping shape the work by facilitating community conversations, asking critical questions, and bridging creative practice and research with city building.

Kwende Kefentse is a creator, researcher, administrator and cultural innovator based in Ottawa. Coming from Caribbean heritage, Kwende's upbringing as a first-generation Canadian instilled in him a profound appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultural expressions that surrounded him. From the rhythms of his parents' Bajan roots to the pulsating energy of Caribana, Kwende's early experiences in the Greater Toronto Area laid the groundwork for a lifelong exploration of the intersections between culture, creativity, and urbanism.

Kwende earned a Masters of Research (MRes) from UCL's Bartlett School of Architecture focused on the spatial dynamics of cultural production in the music industry. He is an external research fellow for Carleton University's Research Centre for Music, Sound, and Society in Canada and serves on the boards of the Carleton University Art Gallery, the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, the Ottawa Film Office, and the Washington D.C.-based Music Policy Forum (Emeritus). As DJ Memetic, creative director of TIMEKODE and the producer of the TIMEKODE original productions and remixes, he played a pivotal role in shaping Ottawa's underground music scene, fostering a space for musical exploration and cultural exchange. His work has received critical acclaim from international outlets like Vice Thump, Radio Nova, and Wax Poetics. He has been requested as an opening performer for luminaries like Nas and Barack Obama. In 2025 Kwende is establishing his consultancy Memetic Media, and launching the TIMEKODE CoLABoratory, a dynamic, interdisciplinary project that commemorates 20 years of local nightclub heritage, while charting its future through innovation, collaboration, and community engagement