The advocate with Outside In died Jan. 6. She was 74.
Tia Plympton, a lifelong advocate for homeless youths in Portland, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the age of 74. She was a revolutionary spirit who stood for and with homeless youths for decades. She joined Outside In in 1995, after being a project coordinator at Cascade AIDS Project and head of Portland’s chapter of the National Organization for Women.
She worked tirelessly with youths, doing street outreach and peer education while providing them with the things they needed to stay healthy on Portland’s streets. Over the next 19 years, Tia engaged directly with young people who were experiencing homelessness. She promoted health, wellness and a sense of community with all she worked alongside.
Tia inspired many to meet people where they were at and to do the right thing, even if it meant fighting against the system.
Kathy Oliver, former director of Outside In, most remembers “how homeless youth responded to her. They adored her… Tia believed in them, and they loved her fiercely for that. … She was a role model, not just for youth but for all of us.”
Haven Wheelock is a homeless rights advocate with Outside In.
If you go
Outside the Frame will host a memorial for Tia at 6 p.m. Feb. 6. All are welcome. Contact Nili Yosha for details: nili@otfpdx.org.
Street Roots is an award-winning, nonprofit, weekly newspaper focusing on economic, environmental and social justice issues. Our newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Learn more about Street Roots
