Author Artist Advocate
Latest News
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Thank you,
Bobby B.
for a great conversation:
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click the link below to listen
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Community Profile: Voices from the
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Updated February 2026
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​ We are back for the third time at ​​
​the Fertile Ground Festival of New Works.
April 11, 19 & 26​​​​​
Tickets available February 23
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This year, Ruthie and her daughter Darla, make you laugh while they ride the end-of-life-rollercoaster. In this latest installment, meditations from the grave help mother and daughter make sense of the madness of constant layovers from advocacy, to exhaustion, to illness, and everyday life.
At Fertile Ground in 2020, "Lost in Elder World," illuminated the perils of elder advocacy, as
a daughter, shared her experience with her mother
& mom’s pooch in assisted living.
In 2021, amidst a pandemic, we returned to the Festival with - A Window into Elder World,"
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“Saying Goodbye in Elder World,” is produced as part of the 2026 Fertile Ground Festival of New Works – a program of the Portland Area Theatre Alliance – presenting new work exclusively by local artists in Portland and the surrounding areas. The 2026 Fertile Ground Festival runs April 10th-26th. fertilegroundpdx.org
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Ready to do something? Become an Ombudsman to advocate for seniors.
Desire to make a difference as one goes through the end of life transition?
You can be trained for Hospice.
Caregiver Help Desk
855-227-3640
Need support?
Click on CARIE to get assistance.
Portland, Oregon support
for people 55 & up.
Loneliness Line
503-200-1633 or
800-282-7035
Writing
Interviews
Video
If Only George Clooney Were My Doctor (excerpt)
HOCUS Reading
Rose City Coffee Co. PDX, OR 7/19
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Press
Photos
Heritage 1 - Arranged Marriage
Migration Stories
MAC 6/18
Heritage 2 - This Country Doesn't Feel Like Home
Migration Stories
MAC 6/18
Immigration Over Time
My Grandma
Immigrant Story
Pro Photo Supply 7-8/19
Bio
I’m an author and performer. My illness memoir, “If Only George Clooney Were My Doctor,” is an off-beat take on my time on life support.
My influences are Spalding Gray, Bill Maher, Maureen Dowd, Jon Stewart, Samantha Bee, David Sedaris and Caitlin Moran among others...humor with a bent to the political along with pop culture and music references.
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My writing about illness advocacy has been performed as staged readings in New York City. This Spring, my writing on caregiving was in ensemble theater pieces at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey, and a community reading at the Profile Theater in Portland.
I consider myself part of the Narrative Medicine
Movement. Authors whether they're doctors, patients, or caregivers discover moments of transcendence
through writing.
Another passion is
immigration, My father's parents came through Ellis Island. I’ve explored this through my photo/literature work; shown in juried art shows.
Hypatia In The Woods, a women’s writing residency was kind enough to give me a scholarship. I’m thrilled to be part of the Writer’s Guild Initiative mentorship program.
Contact
For any inquiries, please contact Darlene Zimbardi
Tel: 917-880-0722 | darlene.zimbardi@gmail.com