In a world on fire, where do we find hope? This nonfiction writing elective aims to extinguish those fires and heal our understanding of the natural and unnatural worlds we live in. We discuss, create, and recreate water's literally fluid meanings through historic and contemporary literature, art, environmental journalism, and our own urban explorations, to rediscover and restore our creative habitats in New York City and the world. We read writers including Robin Wall Kimmerer, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Alejandra Oliva, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Toni Morrison, and Rachel Carson to rediscover beaches, borders, pools, pipelines, beverage bottles, storms, marine life; we study authors, scientists, and activists fighting environmental racism, disaster, and degradation to heal our communities. Coursework includes creative/researched papers/presentations, journaling, and much seminar discussion, in which we work together to fight despair and ignite our hope for change.