A Week in the Life

jeremyforward4
Sep 24, 2023
3 min read

Hello everyone! I’d like to talk a little bit about the last few days.

✨ On Tuesday afternoon, September 19th, I met up for coffee with Judy Herrell to talk about accessibility at Herrell’s Ice Cream🍦🍦. Judy is interested in making a sign for their window that explains to people where the accessible entrance is located (inside Thornes on floor L1). I assisted her with the wording of the sign, and I am always excited when a business owner is proactive about accessibility. I appreciate this ongoing conversation, and hope for more dialogues and action in Northampton to reimagine the wheel.

✨ Later on Tuesday, in the early evening, I was delighted to be invited to the Northampton Neighbors’ Ward 4 Neighborhood Circle. There I had the opportunity to introduce myself to residents of Ward 4 and have a vibrant conversation about the issues that are important to all of us. Everybody there was so kind and supportive. I wrote up a speech specifically for the event, and I very much appreciated the thoughtful questions and comments that you all shared with me afterward. For those who were not able to attend, you can read the speech by clicking the link below:

Jeremy’s Northampton Neighbors Speech

[image description: Jeremy, sitting in his wheelchair looking very happy after his first time taking questions from constituents, at Northampton Neighbor’s Ward 4 Neighborhood Circle. Mary Ann and Sara, who invited Jeremy to speak at the event, are standing behind smiling.]

I’d love it if you wanted to tell me what you think about it. This coming Wednesday, September 27th from 6:30PM to 7:30, the Neighborhood Circle will be hosting a virtual encore presentation on Zoom for anyone who could not make it on Tuesday. I hope to see you there! Click the link below for the details:

Neighborhood Circle ZOOM Encore

✨ On Wednesday, I took a break from my campaign to play a show with my band at the Marigold Theater in Easthampton. There, I shared the stage with a singer who helped design the beautiful and accessible Mount Tom North Trailhead Park.

✨ And coincidentally, on Friday, September 22nd, I explored the Mount Tom trail with three of my fellow Northampton Disability Commissioners: vice-chair Emma Cornwell, Kathy Murri, and Amy Sugihara (pictured below). We had such a fabulous time out in nature, and it reminded me how great it would be to have an accessible unpaved trail like that in Northampton. To learn about the bill that is being proposed to create more accessible unpaved trails in Massachusetts, you can visit http://www.unpavedtrailsforall.org/. There is a petition on their website that you can sign to show your support.

[image description: Four Northampton Disability Commissioners, from left: Amy Sugihara, Kathy Murri, Chair: Jeremy Dubs, Vice-Chair Emma Cornwell, taking a moment to relax and take in the gorgeous scenery of the accessible unpaved trail at Mount Tom North Trailhead Park in Easthampton]

✨ Finally, yesterday, Saturday the 23rd, I went into town to check out the Doozy Do parade. There, I met up with current Ward 4 Councilor Garrick Perry, and it was great to talk with him about what it’s going to be like for me and this new adventure I’m going on. I’m thrilled that you’ll all be going on this adventure with me.

✨Please feel free to get in touch anytime. You can email me call or text me, reach out on Facebook or Instagram (@Jeremy4Ward4), and we can always grab a cup of coffee. Sometimes I may be “slow” to reach back out. I have been thinking about what it feels like to be running for city councilor and having a disability. Sometimes I feel that my body and mind are not working fast enough or hard enough, whatever that means. But there are also times when everything feels very right. Like, for instance, when I am sitting across from someone at a coffee shop who speaks to me about their invisible disability and their desire for access, or when I am welcomed into a room of people who voice many of the same struggles that I have been having in a city that I love, but often feel isolated in. In so many moments, I feel held and loved by my neighbors, my friends, and amazing people doing incredible work in Northampton, that I am only just beginning to learn about.