MUSKEGON, MI – A Michigan girl who is speaking up about litter in the city of Muskegon has been booked on the Kelly Clarkson Show.
Zoey Tice, an 11-year-old from Muskegon, as well as her mother and grandmother are set to fly to New York City later this month to appear on the daytime talk show.
Tice garnered attention in the past month from city leaders, and later social media, after speaking out against litter at an August city commission meeting.
She told the commissioners that she was noticing a lot of broken glass, among other pieces of litter, in her neighborhood.
“Broken glass is basically everywhere – also, food and drink wrappers…plastic bags just kind of rolling around, which is really hurting ourselves as well as our community,” Tice said. “I also really like our city, so I feel like we should try to do some things that can actually help make a difference.”
The commissioners thanked Tice for sharing her concerns and possible solutions, and some offered specific support such as helping pick up trash and providing food for volunteers at a future community cleanup.
Muskegon Mayor Ken Johnson said he hoped to have more conversations with Tice about working together.
Tice and her family were contacted a couple weeks later by a producer from the Kelly Clarkson Show.
“This little girl was so ecstatic to be able to go see Kelly and get her story out there,” said Charlotte Ostrander, Tice’s grandmother, adding that the two have watched the show together.
Ostrander said she and Tice will be on stage while Tice’s mother will be in the audience.
The family is excited to visit New York City and plan to visit Times Square while there.
Tice is a sixth grader at the Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change.
She spent much of her summer vacation this year with Ostrander; walking, stopping at stores and playgrounds and always carrying a bag to collect trash along the way.
Since speaking out, Tice has been contacted by community members and governmental leaders who hope to fuel her passion.
Tice will be receiving a special tribute on Monday, Sept. 22, from the state of Michigan recognizing her cleanup efforts and advocacy at the city commission meeting.
State Rep. Will Snyder, D-Muskegon, will be giving Tice the award Monday afternoon at McLaughlin Community Park.
A community cleanup is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 27 at the corner of Messler Street and Southern Avenue.
The cleanup was put together by organizers with the Travis Manion Foundation and Tice, and is in honor of Tice’s late great-grandfather, Charles A. Whidden.
The foundation honors and empowers veterans and their families.
“They had a great relationship,” Ostrander said, of Tice and Whidden, her father. The 25-year Army veteran, who served in Vietnam, died in 2021.
“He was in a scooter – (Zoey) would ride her bike and he would ride his scooter around the blocks, and they would race each other,” Ostrander said.
Tice has also been selected for a Keep Michigan Beautiful Merit Award, which she will receive on Oct. 3 in Lansing.
A community member even reached out wanting to start a GoFundMe for Tice’s education.
Tice has also signed up for the Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore and plans to be involved in their community cleanups and environmental work.
“It’s been a whirlwind of activates for this baby, but she’s taking it with stride,” Ostrander said.