Bridging Generations: Ubuntu in Action with Tresha Wallace
- Eartha Aisha Lowe
- May 6
- 12 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
There is a place where growing older does not mean growing apart from ourselves. It is a space that holds the full spectrum of life, from the challenges and memories to the laughter that rises when people feel truly at home. You see members cooking together and moving together through dance and exercise, walking in conversation as they go. It is the kind of connection that ages well, simply because the energy is presence.
I sat down with Tresha Wallace, founder of Ubuntu Legacy Community Care, to explore the heart of this work. To understand its foundation, I asked her to take us back to where it all started:
What first led you to create this space, and was there a particular moment when you knew this work needed to exist?
Her response brought me back to something familiar.
How many of us have looked back at our childhoods and realized we misunderstood the elders who lived among us? We often lacked the context to see their struggles.
I might have been about nine years old when a distant relative came to live in my parents’ home. My siblings and I would watch this person walk to the refrigerator, open the door, take something out, and place it in a random spot. When we asked her about it, she would immediately deny having done it. In our confusion, we assumed she was being dishonest. We didn’t know then that her reality was slipping away, or that she needed patience and guidance (as did we), not judgment.
The adults in our home never took the time to explain what was happening, as within most Caribbean households, the care of elders is frequently viewed as a private, familial duty rather than a subject for open discussion. It wasn’t until we were much older that we learned, on our own, what this family member had been battling. Looking back, I realize we were missing the intergenerational connection that helps us honour our elders in the present. My siblings and I were missing the ‘why,’ behind her actions, including the cultural context, the history, and the human connection that turns a patient into a person.
When I asked Tresha what led her to create Ubuntu Legacy Community Care, her response mirrored that same need for deeper understanding. She spoke of her years as a nurse supporting patients through chronic disease management, describing the exact moment she realized that clinical care alone was never enough.
Ubuntu Legacy Community Care was born from what Tresha witnessed in her own community. She saw that while our seniors carry a lifetime of strength and history, too many are living in isolation, struggling with health challenges, and lacking the culturally safe spaces where they can feel truly understood. It was also important to her that Ubuntu Legacy serves both seniors and the younger generation. As she shared, “Healing is inherently intergenerational.”
For Tresha, the philosophy of Ubuntu, “I am because we are, is more than a beautiful sentiment; it is a responsibility to ensure no one is left behind. She has cultivated a space where seniors are honoured rather than forgotten, and where youth learn that elders are not 'in the way,' but are, in fact, living libraries. When we bridge that gap, both generations rise.
Ubuntu Legacy Community Care brings together seniors from the Canadian Caribbean diaspora and a beautifully diverse circle of others who may have once felt like they were on the outside looking in. What they have found instead is a rhythm, a 'come sit with me' energy that feels like home.
To understand how this vision came to life and what it truly means to build a community that feels like family, HRBN Life Stories sat in conversation with Tresha Wallace.
Let’s get into it.
Ubuntu Legacy Community Care in action: bridging generations through culture, connection, and care.
Eartha:
To understand the heart of this work, I’d like to start at the very beginning. What first led you toward creating Ubuntu Legacy, and was there a particular moment when you knew this work needed to exist?
Tresha:
Ubuntu Legacy Community Care was born out of what I kept seeing in my own community. Our seniors carry a lifetime of strength and history, yet too many are living in isolation, struggling with health challenges, and lacking the culturally safe spaces where they can feel understood.
As a nurse, I spent years supporting patients through chronic disease management, diabetes education, and the complexities of aging. I consistently found that clinical care alone was never enough. People were searching for belonging; they needed a community where they were truly seen.
I knew this work had to exist the moment I saw the reality for so many Afro-Caribbean and diverse seniors in Canada. They were navigating the aging process without support systems that reflected their culture, language, food, humour, and values. I kept thinking, 'We can do better than this.' Ubuntu Legacy was my answer to that call.
Eartha:
The philosophy of “I am because we are” is woven into the name Ubuntu. How has that idea personally shaped the way you see your own life and the people around you?
Tresha:
For me, Ubuntu is more than a beautiful sentiment; it’s a responsibility we carry to ensure no one is left behind.
It reminds me that none of us are meant to do life alone, and that our wellbeing is connected. This philosophy shapes how I lead, how I show up, and how I care. I do not see people as “clients” or “participants,” I see family, neighbours, aunties, and uncles. I see community members whose lives are deeply valued.
It also keeps me grounded. When the weight of the work feels heavy, Ubuntu reminds me that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s community in action. It is the very foundation of how we survive, and more importantly, how we thrive.
Eartha:
Ubuntu Legacy serves both seniors and younger generations. Why was it important for you to build something that honours both wisdom and continuity?
Tresha:
Ubuntu Legacy serves both seniors and youth because healing is inherently intergenerational. While our seniors deserve dignity, companionship, and care, our younger generations are equally in need of the guidance, grounding, and identity that only elders can provide. When we separate the two, we lose something powerful. Ubuntu Legacy was built to protect that wisdom and ensure continuity, so our stories, values, and cultural strength remain unbroken.
I wanted to create a space where seniors feel honoured rather than forgotten, and where youth learn that elders are not 'in the way,' but are, in fact, living libraries. When we bridge that gap, both generations rise.
Eartha:
What have elders in your community taught you that no formal education ever could?
Tresha:
Elders in my community taught me resilience with grace, and bravery in ways no formal education ever could. They taught me the courage to ask for what I need and the essential truth that seeking support is not a weakness – it is an act of wisdom. They showed me that life was never meant to be carried alone, and that true strength lies in knowing when to lean on others.
They also taught me something I carry with me today: it is not just what I do that matters, but how I make people feel in my presence. They taught me the power of being present, the depth of being understanding, and to remember that lived experience is our greatest teacher.
Education may provide knowledge, but our elders teach us how to live.
Eartha:
What specific traditions, linguistic nuances, or “unspoken rules” of conduct have you consciously or unconsciously adopted from your elders, and how do you envision adapting these for the next generation in an increasingly globalized world?
Tresha:
I have found myself adopting many of their sayings and ways of being, especially the reminder that we are never meant to do life alone. One saying that stays with me is, ‘One hand can’t clap.’ That simple phrase carries an entire worldview: we need each other. I have learned to see how we can be ‘same but different’ and still belong together. My elders taught me patience, and I admire their willingness to pour into others – to share and to help – without ever needing recognition.
For the next generation, I want to hold onto the heart of these traditions while adapting them for today.
In our globalized world, the youth may not always practice respect, community and care in the exact same way as their ancestors, but they can still carry the core values. My hope is to pass down the meaning behind the sayings and the spirit behind the 'unspoken rules,' empowering them to translate Ubuntu into their own language, their own era, and their own unique way of connecting.
Eartha:
We are in a time where many people feel increasingly disconnected. What role do you believe community care plays in healing?
Tresha:
Community care is the medicine we often overlook. It is our most effective form of prevention, a vital source of mental health support, and the very foundation of safety and belonging. When we are disconnected, we begin to decline – emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Community care brings us back to ourselves by offering the most essential reminder of all: that we matter.
True healing happens in the small, human moments: being remembered, called by name, invited in, and checked on. That is the heart of Ubuntu Legacy. We provide a space where connection is never left to chance but built with intention.
Eartha:
What does dignity in aging mean to you, especially within Afro-Caribbean and culturally diverse communities?
Tresha:
Dignity in aging means our elders are never treated as burdens. It means our elders are respected and supported in ways that honour their unique history – through the food they love, the music that moves them, and the language that feels like home. It means creating a culture where asking for help is met with grace, not shame, and where our elders are shielded from the isolation of systems that fail to understand them.
In our communities, our elders have spent a lifetime sacrificing for the sake of their families. Dignity means we no longer wait for a crisis to show them our care. We honour them in the present – while they can still laugh, dance, teach, and be celebrated – ensuring their lives are filled with the same love they have poured into us for so long.
Eartha:
Have there been moments through this work that reminded you why it matters?
Tresha:
Yes, and these moments are exactly what keep me going. I have watched seniors arrive at Ubuntu feeling the weight of loneliness, only to witness something beautiful unfold: they begin to form a new sisterhood and brotherhood. They start to look forward to these connections, finding comfort in how relatable and deeply understood they are by one another. It is incredible to see. Less than a year ago, many of them were strangers, and now, they are inseparable.
Now, they are traveling together, shopping together, and meeting for tea, and honestly, they keep me busy in the best way possible. They’ve even formed their own social committee to organize more gatherings, simply because they want to stay connected. That is when I know this work truly matters; it is the moment Ubuntu moves beyond a program and becomes what it was always meant to be: community becoming family.
Eartha:
What do you hope younger generations learn when they witness the way Ubuntu Legacy honours its elders?
Tresha:
My hope is that this work offers them hope, understanding, and a new perspective. I want younger generations to see that our seniors were once young, too, and that we aren’t so different after all. I want them to learn compassion: to realize that none of us are perfect, and that there is no ‘how-to’ book for being human. We are all just doing our best, shaped by the experiences we’ve had and the conclusions we’ve reached along the way.
Most importantly, I hope they learn to offer themselves the same grace they extend to others – to be patient and to recognize that our elders are still evolving, still here, still learning, and still growing alongside us. Honouring our elders is not just about looking back at where we’ve been; it is about learning forward together.
Eartha:
Founding something meaningful often asks a lot of the person behind it. How has this journey changed you?
Tresha:
In many ways, this journey hasn’t changed me so much as it has confirmed who I am. When I was searching for a name that captured the essence of this work, I described my own values and 'Ubuntu' emerged as the answer. The more I researched, the more I realized that I had been living this principle all along. And the most powerful part? Seeing that every member who joins our community also embodies that same spirit.
I realize now that we are a reflection of one another. At our core, we all seek the same thing: to be seen, to be valued, and to be human. Our members motivate me deeply; I often find myself standing back in admiration of what we have built.
I am genuinely in love with who we are becoming as a community.
Eartha:
When someone leaves an Ubuntu Legacy gathering, what do you hope they carry with them?
Tresha:
My greatest hope is that they leave us feeling truly cared for. I want them to leave feeling better about themselves, knowing that their well-being matters. I want them to feel that Ubuntu is a safe space and a place of genuine understanding. We aren't here for performative gestures; we are here to offer real, unwavering support.
Because, at the end of the day, what people remember most is how you made them feel. I want our members to leave feeling seen, valued, and held by a community that truly cherishes them.
Eartha:
As our conversation unfolded, I’ve been struck by the sheer heart and dedication you’ve poured into Ubuntu Legacy. It’s clear that this work is a labour of love, and I can’t help but ask: what do you need most right now from our community to help this vision grow?
Tresha:
Right now, we are inviting individuals and businesses to partner with us in sustaining this vital work. Whether through sponsorship, collaborative opportunities, in-kind space, or the gift of your time as a volunteer, every contribution helps us deepen our impact.
If you feel called to support the Ubuntu Legacy mission, you can explore our sponsorship and partnership opportunities here: https://ubuntulegacycc.ca/sponsorship.
Our page offers a clear breakdown of how you can get involved and help us ensure that our seniors continue to feel seen, valued, and held.
Eartha:
Has there been a moment when your understanding of Ubuntu was challenged? How did that shape the way you build relationships today?
Tresha:
There have been moments where I’ve had to choose between my own pride and the health of our community. Times when misunderstandings or misaligned expectations threatened to create division. These were the moments that truly tested the spirit of Ubuntu; it is easy to claim we are connected when things are smooth, but it is far harder – and far more necessary – to remain connected when we feel hurt or misunderstood.
What I’ve learned is that true relationship requires humility. Ubuntu has taught me to pause, to listen, and to seek understanding before I react. It has fundamentally changed how I approach conflict, shifting the focus from 'who is right' to 'how do we repair?' That mindset has become the cornerstone of how I build partnerships, how I lead, and how I protect the spirit of community in this work.
Eartha:
How do you define legacy, not just as an organization, but as a woman doing this work?
Tresha:
To me, legacy is humanity. It is the act of carrying forward a culture that puts people first.
Ubuntu is an ancient tradition, a belief that it takes a community to raise a child and that our lives are connected. It is the language of 'we,' 'us,' and 'togetherness.' Yet, somewhere along the way, that spirit was lost in transition; we drifted into a world defined by 'me' and 'I.'
My legacy, as a woman doing this work, is to lead us back to our innate truth: that we are only whole when we are together. My legacy is the simple, radical reminder that I am because we are.
To learn more about the work Tresha is doing to bridge generations and build community, or to explore how you can support the Ubuntu Legacy mission, please visit ubuntulegacycc.ca.
Continue the Conversation
Tresha’s story reminds us that, ultimately, Ubuntu is not a destination; it is a practice. It is the daily, intentional choice to see one another, to honour our elders, and to recognize that our stories are not meant to be held in isolation. When we share our own truths and sit with the truths of others, we begin to heal the fractures in our community. We begin to remember that we are not just individuals navigating a world – we are a collective, bound by the simple, beautiful reality that I am because we are.
I invite you to join this conversation. What does 'community' mean to you? What is a truth you’ve been holding that needs to be heard? Who is an elder that has left a mark on your heart? I encourage you to write a letter in response to this piece. Share your reflections, your own experiences with aging, or the lessons your elders have taught you. Let’s create a space where our stories can meet, be understood, and ultimately, be held.
Editorial Note
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and flow, ensuring that Tresha’s unique voice and the heart of her message remain at the forefront.
Written by Eartha Lowe
Eartha Lowe is a writer and founder of Her Roots By Nature (HRBN), a storytelling platform dedicated to capturing community-rooted narratives through reflective interviews and cultural storytelling.
Based in Ontario, Canada.
Website: herrootsbynature.ca
