Nils I. Palsson

Father, Educator, AUthor & Community Organizer

Nils on 2015 pilgrimage to DC, the week Bernie declared candidacy.

Introduction

An overview of who I am and what I’m working on. Get to know me here. →

Go back and fetch it

I am writing my first book, an intimate memoir. Learn more about it here. →

campaign story

In 2016 and 2018, I ran for US Congress. Check out my campaign story here. →

Cancer Dancer

In 2021, I was diagnosed with cancer. Read about my experience. →

Teaching & education

Learn about my teaching philosophy and journey as a lifelong educator here. →

Fire & Preparedness

Displaced by wildfire, I became a first responder. Read more here. →

The Spiritual Path

The yogic path and the spiritual journey lay at the heart of all I do. Details. →

Community Resilience

Read about my experience as a community organizer. →

Parkour & Play

Through it all, I love to climb and jump and play. This is my ode to parkour. →

Bookstore
Now open!

I’ve curated some reading lists to highlight the works that inspire me. Now Open! →

Video Gallery

Below are a few of my videos. View the complete video archive here. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for even more.

Fire Station 88.1 - Valley Fire Documentary

When an historic wildfire ripped through Lake County near Napa Valley, CA, volunteers at a low budget radio station took to the airwaves to help hold their community together. FIRE STATION 88.1 is an homage to the human voice and a portrait of a rural northern CA community confronting the new normal of monster wildfires across the west. Read more about my Valley Fire experience here.

Find Your Wings by Jumping - Commencement Address to the Class of 2021

Nils Palsson's commencement address to the class of 2021 at Quest Forward Academy Santa Rosa's graduation ceremony, June 4, 2021.

Top Priority: Getting Money out of Politics

On most issues - student debt and high-cost education, unaffordable healthcare, income inequality, climate chaos, racial injustice and mass incarceration, endless war, and many more - the reason our needs are not being met is that Big Money has taken over politics. That's why my top legislative priority is getting money out of politics.

Dignity for All

People ask me why I'm doing this - why I'm giving my time and energy to the mission of running for office on a playing field that we all know is far from level. The answer is simple. It is my duty. As a father, I need to do all in my power to give my daughter - all our children and grandchildren - a better world.

This video sheds a bit of light on my origin story, how going through chemo with my dad and being by his side before he died hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical debt helped to ignite within me a passion for a health care system that treats people with dignity, and how being a father to young Satya inspires me to take massive action every day to fight for a safer, healthier world for all.

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Blog Posts & News

Below are some recent excerpts from my blog. You can view them all here and sign up for my email newsletter here.

Featured Blog Posts

Summer Update, Birthday & NEDfest 2023!

I hope you are well! It has been a while since I’ve shared an update, and as we near my 38th birthday (on August 2nd!) — along with the two-year anniversary of the completion of my treatment for cancer and the beginning of a long recovery journey — I wanted to reach out with a few kind words and good tidings of what’s to come.

NEW! You can now view this post as a fun video with extra images and bonus content that includes breaking news!

Only Getting Nedder!

I hope your springtimes are progressing in vivid color, and that your summer is shaping up to be a great one. I just wanted to share with my loved ones out there a couple of pieces of good news.

First: My MRI scan a couple of weeks ago yielded another negative result, showing no evidence of disease and further documenting my complete remission! I welcome and celebrate the clean bill of health!

Annual Letter, 2022-23

2022 has been an amazing, humbling, sweet year — one of physical rehabilitation, family connection, spiritual expansion, celebration of life, and working to create a rich, new definition of “normal” after last year’s remarkable struggles and powerful lessons. It was also a year replete with its own challenges and surprises — but are these not essential aspects of the privilege of being alive?

What can we do but smile and give thanks for it all?

Happy NED Year!

After a couple of really challenging years — a dance with cancer that included major surgery, brutal chemotherapy, and months of uncertainty with irregular scans ever-trending in the right direction but stopping just short of the longed-for resolution of “complete remission” — it finally happened.

I went in this November for another CT scan… and at long last...

It was NEGATIVE!

A Graduation for Us All

…If you caught my last post, you saw that I just celebrated my 37th birthday (while on an overnight train in northern Finland, no less)! Over the next few weeks, as I settle back into life at home, I’ll be integrating my experience and sharing stories and media from the road (to augment the brief photo chronicles I’ve already shared on Instagram and Facebook).

For now, though — as I pivot somewhat abruptly to Back-to-School Mode — I wanted to take the opportunity to share a video of a very special occasion that took place earlier this summer.

Watch the video

Featured Endorsements

"Nils Palsson has been a progressive and compassionate voice within our community for as long as I can remember. Deeply aware of the critical social justice and ecological issues of our time, he has always been a powerful mover, shaker, and motivator for change, innovation, and preservation of intrinsic human values."
-Amylia Willard, Cobb

"I have not had the pleasure of knowing a more inclusive, caring, compassionate individual. I don't know if we can ever truly get money out of politics, but I believe there is a way to get it into the right hands. I'll put my money -- and everything else I have -- behind Nils. Every. Time."
-Mark Kushnir, social worker

"Mr.Palsson is a believer of by the people, for the people. He would bring fairness, truth, open-mindedness back into politics. Corrupt people are holding seats in Congress right now, it's time for a change and the hope of our future is in Nils. I will vote for Nils... Will you? Cheers to a promising 2018."
-Victoria Newman

"Nils is a talented and effective community organizer who knows what it takes to create change. He will take his skills to Washington, and teach Congress a lesson.”
-Carol Cole-Lewis & Clovice Lewis, Upper Lake

"Nils has his finger on the pulse for the change we need to see in our political system now more than ever. He is passionately committed and prepared to take this fight to Washington and see it through, and I will be cheering him on all the way!"
-April Geer

"Nils is a visionary with a true force of intent to leave this world better than he found it. With that focus, he's headed to the US Congress to do what every progressive thinker in America wants: support the environment; set policy to ensure justice and dignity for people of all colors, creeds and genders; get Big Money out politics and give control back to ordinary voters (he is not taking corporate donations); bring us Medicare For All and affordable education; set a course for a brilliant future in America. I invite you to meet Nils and be inspired!"
-Hilary Avalon, Sonoma County

"Nils has been preparing for greatness for as long as I have known him; some 8 years now! He is educated and rational in his approach to working FOR the people. He has excellent communication skills and works tirelessly. I look forward to him playing a major role in government, we need him."
-Suzy Karasik, Pinole

"This guy has been a local shaker and mover for years. He knows what is needed, and has the energy to get it done."
-John Parker, archaeologist

"Nils is passionate about and working hard for the things I believe in: resilient communities, environmental and social justice, sustainability, a saner world."
-Anneke Campbell, author

"Besides his many talents, Nils is humble and pure-of-heart, two qualities that are so desperately needed in our leaders."
-Marissa Mommaerts, grassroots organizer

"I believe in him."
-Beverly Owen, Clearlake

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