Move-In Day Mafia is the brainchild of TeeJ Mercer, AKA "Auntie TeeJ," a self-described loud, proud, insufferable and unapologetic graduate of THEE Howard University.
We are a group volunteers who are HBCU lovers committed to disrupting the "foster care to prison pipeline" and replacing it with the "foster care to HBCU GRADUATE Pipeline"
We are a group volunteers who are HBCU lovers committed to disrupting the "foster care to prison pipeline" and replacing it with the "foster care to HBCU GRADUATE Pipeline"
The Move-In Day Mafia (MIDM) descends upon HBCUs to provide dorm room makeovers and monthly care packages for HBCU students who have aged out of foster care, are unsheltered, or have little to no support.
We believe that you have already beat the odds by going to college; therefore, we want to come along beside you to remove some of the financial burden so that your dream of graduation becomes a reality.
We believe that you have already beat the odds by going to college; therefore, we want to come along beside you to remove some of the financial burden so that your dream of graduation becomes a reality.
Back in 2020 when the pandemic snatched graduations from the deserving graduates, 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!
Move-In Day Mafia was born!
- A customized dorm room design created by interior design firm Nikki Klugh Design Group. With your input, Nikki’s team will design a space that fosters your creativity and productivity set up to make sure you thrive.
- A group of volunteers to help you move in and set up
- TV
- Refrigerator (If the school does not provide)
- Microwave (If the school does not provide)
- School supplies
- Towels
- Linens
- Cutlery
- Hygiene items
- Cleaning products
- Snacks
- Basically EVERY dorm room essential you need to kickstart your college journey
- PLUS! CARE PACKAGES FOR YOUR NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
- NOTE - We do NOT provide scholarships or financial aid towards your actual college expenses.
- VERIFIED HBCU STUDENT DURING THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR
- FALL INTO AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES
- Aged out of foster care
- Unhoused
- Have at least a $0 or below SAI (Student Aid Index)
- Provide proof of financial status and housing assignment
- IF SELECTED, YOU MUST BE WILLING TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE MONTHLY CHECK-IN WITH MOVE-IN DAY MAFIA STUDENT SUPPORT FOR THE DURATION OF YOUR PARTICIPATION
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If you have any questions, shoot an email to [email protected]