Back in 2020 when the pandemic snatched graduations from the deserving graduates, TeeJ Mercer AKA Auntie TeeJ jumped into gear with her band of misfit friends and raised over $1 million in cash and prizes. She gave it all away to the 2020 graduates (500 of them) in a series of Bingo games. When CBS Evening News With Norah O'Donnell wanted to feature the "HBCU Bingo," Auntie TeeJ learned that one of her new HBCU Babies, as she affectionately calls them, was a student who had aged out of foster care.
When the scholar was accepted into an HBCU, her social worker drove her to school, pulled up to the curb, let her unload her stuff, then left her. That broke Auntie TeeJ's heart so just like "HBCU Bingo" she prayed and asked God to show her what she could do to make sure that no other HBCU student had to face this transition alone. And...
Move-In Day Mafia was born!
For our inaugural year in 2022, Move-In Day Mafia provided dorm room makeovers for 13 scholars at Paul Quinn College in Dallas. The following year (2023) we more than doubled our effort with 30 scholars across FIVE HBCUs and we are still growing!
When the scholar was accepted into an HBCU, her social worker drove her to school, pulled up to the curb, let her unload her stuff, then left her. That broke Auntie TeeJ's heart so just like "HBCU Bingo" she prayed and asked God to show her what she could do to make sure that no other HBCU student had to face this transition alone. And...
Move-In Day Mafia was born!
For our inaugural year in 2022, Move-In Day Mafia provided dorm room makeovers for 13 scholars at Paul Quinn College in Dallas. The following year (2023) we more than doubled our effort with 30 scholars across FIVE HBCUs and we are still growing!
Move-In Day Mafia is the divine brainchild of TeeJ Mercer, an award-winning Hollywood TV editor & producer who’s rocked her genius on Hollywood Box Office hits like “Shrek,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “The Incredibles, “Kung Fu Panda,” “Night School,” “Shaft.” Plus, networks like ABC, NBC, MTV, VH1, and BravoTV just to name a few.
This self-described loud, proud, and insufferable grad of the best HBCU, “THEE” Howard University, also has a heart to always help those in need! Waking up everyday with the sole intent of being a "SAP" (Somebody's Answered Prayer) it is no surprise that TeeJ's life’s mission is to travel the world, hug a bunch of people, and surprise them.
As a speaker, TeeJ has earned the reputation of being a masterful storyteller who takes audiences on a journey of transformation and activation. Having graced stages across the globe, TeeJ loves to engage attendees primarily around topics such as resilience after sleeping next to C.R.A.Z.Y., unexpected pivots into your life purpose, and everyday biblical principles to apply to life. Her most recent talk series "The ABCs Of Audacity" draws from her own audacious adventures and lessons learned from working with A-list celebrities, unveiling the blueprint to ignite your extraordinary audaciousness within–one letter at a time.
TeeJ's storytelling prowess isn't confined to stages and screens alone. As an "award-winning author," TeeJ's first book, "40 Days 'Til 40RTY" earned THREE Beverly Hills Book Awards and achieved over 10,000 downloads in just two days, spanning continents and captivating readers.
This self-described loud, proud, and insufferable grad of the best HBCU, “THEE” Howard University, also has a heart to always help those in need! Waking up everyday with the sole intent of being a "SAP" (Somebody's Answered Prayer) it is no surprise that TeeJ's life’s mission is to travel the world, hug a bunch of people, and surprise them.
As a speaker, TeeJ has earned the reputation of being a masterful storyteller who takes audiences on a journey of transformation and activation. Having graced stages across the globe, TeeJ loves to engage attendees primarily around topics such as resilience after sleeping next to C.R.A.Z.Y., unexpected pivots into your life purpose, and everyday biblical principles to apply to life. Her most recent talk series "The ABCs Of Audacity" draws from her own audacious adventures and lessons learned from working with A-list celebrities, unveiling the blueprint to ignite your extraordinary audaciousness within–one letter at a time.
TeeJ's storytelling prowess isn't confined to stages and screens alone. As an "award-winning author," TeeJ's first book, "40 Days 'Til 40RTY" earned THREE Beverly Hills Book Awards and achieved over 10,000 downloads in just two days, spanning continents and captivating readers.
MIDM is comprised of several different "families," which are headed up by a formidable group of "Dons" who bring a variety of expertise, skills, and talents. With over 200 years of collective experience, the "Dons" come from a diverse set of industries. From cyber security to education, to government contracting, to interior design, to event planning, to nonprofit, our Family of Dons represents the ultimate alliance of talent and know-how to ultimately grow MIDM to all 101 remaining HBCUs.
