Before Narkiewicz died on January 10 of an AIDS-related brain disease, she'd begun the Freebird Foundation, a project to spread her highly personal drug-freedom techniques. An all-ages benefit concert starring the bands Zeke, Youth at Risk, RC5, and Schoolyard Heroes will be held Friday, February 1 at 8:00 p.m. at the Vera Project/Local 46 space in the IBEW Hall, 2700 First Avenue. Money raised will cover Darlene's funeral costs; the remainder goes toward the college fund of her 15-year-old son, Jake.
Ben Rew, one of the benefit's organizers, described Narkiewicz as having "that look of serenity and calmness about her all the time, like a Buddhist monk.... She worked with drug addicts and alcoholics, with people who couldn't get into rehabs for heroin [because they didn't have the money or there weren't beds available for them]. She taught me how to die with grace, how to live with faith, how to give selflessly. It'd be really great if there was one person like her for every 100,000 people in the world."
Another friend, who wished to be billed only as "Mary," said Narkiewicz "was extremely approachable and loved you regardless of who you were. She kicked 24 or 25 addicts in her house. Only one didn't make it. There are others who've come in and out, but they're going to make it."
Many of the people she'd helped later helped care for her in her last months, and are now part of the Freebird Foundation, which hopes to open a free treatment center based on her principles. Yew describes these as "elements of everything from 12-step programs to cognitive psychology, self-esteem, goal-setting, and elements of just about every religion there is."
There's certainly the need. As Yew notes, "Seattle is awful with heroin addicts, meth fiends, and stuff. Ten years ago it was 25- to 35-year-olds doing the drugs on the street. Now it's 16-year-old kids; there are also old junkies who've been doing it 10 to 15 years, and they're tired."
