Across Nova Scotia older change-makers are leaders. They are also parents, grandparents, artists, musicians and more. Join us in celebrating them and all that they do. For Senior’s Week 2021, we are celebrating three amazing change-makers from across the province whose social change work pushes for equity, inclusion and connection.
Today we celebrate Elizabeth Cooke Sumbu!
Elizabeth Cooke Sumbu — Grandmother, Mother, Executive Director, Music Lover, Lifelong Learner
Home — Amherst, N.S.
Community Involvements — Executive Director of CANSA, Nova Scotia Works; Advisory Committee Member of Cumberland Senior Safety Society; Formed First Transportation Organization in Cumberland County; Director of Empowering Beyond Barriers; And much more!
Change-Work
For Elizabeth, change-work means being a game-changer and bringing people together to improve the whole in a community. While there are many buzzwords out around changing making, she shared how important community of healing is, especially in the Black Community. She says that while healing from harm can be lifelong, community of healing “is a sense of doing this together and that we will get through it together”. Passing knowledge along to the youth in her community has been her driving force as a change-maker.
Making an Impact
Elizabeth has been the Executive Director of CANSA, since 2000. CANSA has a focus on both employment and cultural work — ranging from events to commemorate Emancipation Day to collecting and tracing information about the first 40 Black Families in Cumberland County and connecting community members with information about their ancestors. She is also very passionate about the Cumberland County Transportation Services and shared how it all started by sitting in a room with folks trying to figure out how to create community transportation in Cumberland County. Today, the program has 5 shuttles providing transportation throughout the county.
Sharing of Wisdom & Learnings
“People will be people” says Elizabeth, “Sometimes we can change people and sometimes we can’t”. She shares that if we personally take on being the change we wish to see, that is something to live by. Liz remarks that change-work requires support and collaboration and is thankful for the support and openness she has received from the Board and her staff at CANSA.
Please join us in recognizing and celebrating all Elizabeth has done to make Nova Scotia a better place! To learn more about Elizabeth and the stories she shared with us, check out the video below:
