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Nicole Walker ponders the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and human health, from microplastics in food to the potential future consequences. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Plastics make it possible

Nicole Walker reflects on unpredictable March snowstorms, missed ski opportunities and environmental hope amidst personal challenges and political uncertainty. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible patience

A sleepless activist shares an alphabetized list of ways to resist and fight for change, emphasizing community, action and hope.

A reflection on climate change implications, from activism in Oregon to water scarcity in Utah, with hopes for a wetter future shattered. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Snow

A journey to Torrey, Utah for Thanksgiving leads to fishing adventures and reflections on post-election activism and the importance of listening and storytelling. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Fish

Nicole Walker's journey in crafting "Writing the Hard Stuff," guided by students' insights and reflections, fostering a community of trust and creativity. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Amounts of Gratitude

Nicole Walker addresses Governor Hobbs about funding cuts in higher education, emphasizing the importance of public schools. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Governors

Flagstaff’s housing crisis and growth challenges prompt innovative solutions to preserve the city's unique charm and address community needs. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Growth

Nicole Walker's road trip stumbles upon an emergency hoverboard accident, prompting strangers' help and reflections on care. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Circles

In May, Nicole Walker completed a sabbatical, engaging in writing projects, nature exploration and reflecting on water conservation in Flagstaff. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Water Rates

Nicole Walker examines Flagstaff's lack of representation in contrast with Laurel, Mississippi, the town at the center of the HGTV show "Home Town." Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Laurel, Mississippi

Nicole Walker discusses the environmental impact of uranium mining in Arizona. Read moreImpossible by any other name

Nicole Walker reflects on the history, challenges and dedication behind the Northern Arizona Book Festival, highlighting memorable events and passionate individuals. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Celebrations

Flagstaff's growth and community is highlighted through Kiki Locket's basketball program, Unlocked Potential, which fosters unity and teamwork in this dynamic mountain town. Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Flagstaff’s Possible Potential

Brine shrimp, like petitions against Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs)—vouchers for families who remove their children from public school and receive about $7,000 per student (more if th… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Brine Shrimp and Vouchers

My former student went to see the Subhumans in Phoenix late last fall. I’ve loved this punk rock band since I was twelve-years-old. Their dark point of view satisfied me. Their song “The Cradl… Read moreImpossible individualism: Us fish must swim together

I didn’t mean to fall in love with Brine Shrimp. In 2017, for my birthday, my friend Angie gave me an ecosphere—an egg-shaped glass enclosure in which three brine shrimp swam among oxygenating… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Brine shrimp

I have a confession to make. I adopted two new kittens. After Zane the cat got lost last April, I couldn’t stop missing him. Zane, half Maine Coon, half koala bear, was my person. He slept bet… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Hospitals

On June 30th, I took a trip with my friend Beya and our youngest boys to Clear Creek Reservoir to paddleboard. The wind was strong. The water was murky. The sun was hot. We managed to make it … Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible College

My daughter Zoe is going to college this fall. It will be impossible to survive her leaving, but at least we are determined to have as much fun as possible before she goes. Well, she and her b… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Weird is as weird does

It is possible, although not likely, that my cat will return. I know that it is, in many ways, my fault he is missing. I let him outside that Tuesday evening. He always goes out at least twice… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Possible Luck

It’s ironic to be a writer concerned with climate change who uses, at least at the late stages when books may get published on paper, a product made from the pulp of our climate change salvor.… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Of Trees and Toilet Paper

In the 1990s, the American Plastic Council launched a series of advertisements to persuade the American public that, as Mr. McGuire tells Dustin Hoffman in the film “The Graduate,â€� “There's a … Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Plastic Makes it (Im)possible

It is Valentine’s Day when I’m writing this. When you read this column, a month hence, you will be thinking about St. Patrick’s Day or Spring Break or maybe ahead to Passover or Easter. This p… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible, Possible Snow

Newly elected governor Katie Hobbs, in her inauguration speech, vowed to repeal the universal vouchers, officially known as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) â€� double-speak for if you’re… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Boot Straps

In this column, Walker is sharing a study that she and two of her students have conducted to determine whether it is possible for a person of the Generation “Xâ€� to develop a TikTok strategy or… Read moreTikTok Manifestations by Non-Boomer, Non-Gen Z specimens: An Impossible yet Possibly Possible Gen-X approach

Dear Governor Ducey, Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: The Last Letter to Ducey

After that first year of dorm living as students at Reed College, most of us moved into Reed Houses. Throughout southeast Portland, Reedies crammed themselves into houses with names like The D… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Impossible Living Together

Running for office was never really something I thought of as possible. I’m too mercurial to speak sagely with people with whom I fundamentally disagree. I mean, I can nod and say, “hmm, thatâ€�… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Canvassing is impossible

It was precisely 97 minutes ago that we wrapped up Spring Semester 2022. By the time you’re reading this, it will be September 1 and Fall Semester 2022 will be well underway. They say there’s … Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: A wormhole summer

It is spring in the northern hemisphere, and the peaches cost eighty-nine cents with a digital coupon at Fry’s. Sam Sifton, the food guy for the New York Times, wrote in his recipe for peach p… Read moreNicole's Impossibly Possible Ideas: Peach pies, ESAs and what makes something sublime