Part 2 – No More Talking: Dice Clark’s Street-Level Reality and Community Power

Activist Dice Clark didn’t mince words. Known across Detroit for his grassroots outreach, Dice brought the reality of youth homelessness into sharp focus. He shared the story of a 16-year-old boy caught panhandling in winter, without socks, in the Linwood/Dexter area. The boy’s parents were addicts who used him to get money.

"At first I was against it," Dice admitted. "But God put it on my heart to turn around." He rallied the community through social media, and soon dozens showed up with food, money, and clothes. Dice later visited the boy’s home and found conditions worse than expected.

"He was out of school. I got him back in Central High with his mom's consent," Dice said. But when he tried to enroll the teen in Job Corps, the parents pushed back. "They didn’t want to lose their income source," he explained. The system, too, failed him. Police warned Dice to stop helping or face legal consequences.

Dice's frustration was real: "It’s a shame I could get in trouble for helping him."

Dice also helps seniors. With partner Aaron Patway, he runs an annual Thanksgiving meal drive that now feeds 1,000 seniors. His closing thought summed it up: "If we have to buy the first school ourselves, then that’s what we have to do."