Did He Seriously Ignore All Of Our Hard Work for This Common Thing?

OOOOOOOOWEEEEEEE!!!

Somebody cue the Swag Surf because I’m about to lose my mind with joy and turn cartwheels…cartwheels in my imagination at least.

We’re only three months into our Adopt A Scholar (AAS) campaign and every single month has gotten stronger. Y’all don’t play about your Move-In Day Mafia family because…

You covered $6,000 of our scholars’ $9,000 March needs!!!!!!!!!

​That is wild to me!

When we launched AAS, I had a goal in mind. And I’ll be honest, I was nervous. We made a bold promise to show up for our scholars every month, and I didn’t know if we could pull it off.

But y’all? Y’all pulled up and showed OUT.

That $6,000 means more than just bills paid.

It means we can support more scholars.

It means we can expand to more HBCUs.

It means we can dream even bigger.

So from the bottom of my cartwheel-imagining heart (because again, I’m over 50), THANK YOU. I love you for real.
​
Now, let me remind you why your miracle-making powers are so crucial.

MEET T.K.

When T.K. showed up to Lane College in Jackson, TN He had no suitcase. No “college move-in” moment with cheering family and balloons.

Just a boy-turned-man, with a duffel bag, walking onto campus with nothing but hope on his back.

He’d been through more by 18 than most folks see in a lifetime.

Both parents incarcerated before he hit double digits.

Foster care swallowed up his 7th and 8th year of life.

Then came the constant bouncing from home to home, couch to couch.

No stability. No safety net. No childhood to speak of.

And yet... he made it to Lane.

When our Mafia team finished setting up his room, we were hype.

Nikki Klugh, Mafia’s designer had everything.

✅ Neon lights to make the space feel alive
✅ A custom lion art piece–reminding him that he's royalty
✅ A hand-drawn Boondocks sketch–his favorite show, made with love
✅ And yes... a Costco-sized box of Pringles, front and center on the shelf

We were so excited to see what would catch his eye.

Would it be the lights? The art? The bedding?

​Nope. TK walked in and made a straight-up beeline for the Pringles.

He didn’t glance. He didn’t hesitate. He zeroed in like his soul had found something familiar.

And right then, I felt it in my chest.

That box wasn’t just a snack. It was safety. It was comfort. It was proof that somebody thought about him.

For a kid who’s spent most of his life just trying to get through the day, a box of chips said, “You matter.”

Of course, we laughed because it was hilarious and precious and so very TK.

But hours later, that moment stayed with me.

Because I remembered what he said during his interview.

I’d asked, “How do you stay positive with everything you’ve been through?”

“I actually just keep things to myself. What’s the point of sharing when nobody’s willing to do anything about it?”

Whew.

That answer? That’s exactly why Move-In Day Mafia exists.

That’s exactly why we keep showing up...making miracle moments.

CONFESSION: I LIED.

Okay okay okay…before you clutch your pearls, hear me out.

Last week, I got a little excited. Like, church usher who caught the spirit and took off running down the aisle excited.

I’d told you that THIS week, I was gonna reveal some big surprises that you bought for our scholars.

I had my confetti ready. My captions drafted.

Buuuuut… there was just one teeny tiny problem.

The surprises weren’t delivered yet. 😩

That’s right. Your girl jumped the gun and forgot one very important part of the timeline.

Just because YOU blessed these scholars fast...

Doesn’t mean UPS shares the same urgency.

So now I’m sittin’ on secrets like a kid who peeked at their Christmas presents too early.

And since some of our scholars might be reading this… my lips are sealed.

I can’t ruin the moment.

But trust me, once these deliveries land and the reactions start rolling in?

You’re gonna wanna see every second.

​It’s coming. Just hold tight. And maybe say a little prayer over UPS while you wait.

🎱 THEE HBCU BINGO EXPERIENCE 🎉

Let me go ahead and warn you now... This ain’t your Grandmama’s Bingo.

I’ve worked my crew’s last nerve about my vision so they’ve taken to calling it “Bougie A$$ Bingo” and baby, it’s giving sneaker ball meets HBCU Homecoming with a side of cash prizes.

🗓️ Saturday, July 12
📍 Atlanta, Georgia – just TWO miles from the airport
(Yes, that means you can land, pull up, and still look cute.)

And guess what?

We’ve secured a celebrity powerhouse to serve as BOTH the honorary chair and emcee.

One name. All the star power.

And nope, I’m not spilling who it is just yet... but trust me, it’s gonna be worth the wait.

This is a party with a purpose, a fundraiser in full glam, and a celebration of culture, community, and care.

And right now?

Early bird tickets are LIVE. Only 52 available.

Once they’re gone, you’ll have to catch it in your Insta Stories and wish you were there.

🎟️ Grab yours before they vanish: MoveInDayMafia.org/HBCUBingo

We’re making miracles, making memories, and making noise.

You coming or what?

​If you want to be a sponsor or have prizes you want to donate, shoot an email to [email protected]

This week, I was catching up with one of my Howard classmates who used to live in L.A. with me.

We’re laughing, reminiscing, talking about the good ol’ days--and she casually says, “TeeJ, remember when you used to throw those game nights?”

And baby, it unlocked a whole memory bank I forgot even existed.

I did throw game parties. All the time.

Folks would come over, eat, act a fool, play Taboo like it was a contact sport, and LAUGH until we couldn’t breathe.

One couple even met at one of those nights. They’re still married to this day.

And in that moment, it clicked.

I’ve always loved creating environments where people laugh, connect, and feel joy.

In fact, I still love games. So much so that just last year, I convinced my cousin to play Heads Up with me for so long that the sun came up!

So no, when we were trying to decide what would be our signature fundraiser, I’m not surprised that I vetoed a gala and insisted on a bougie bingo.

(They have their place. But bougie bingo with a DJ, trash talk, and real connection? That’s more my ministry.)

It reminded me of something I want you to hold close too:
💡 Nothing you’ve done is random.
💡 Every joy, every detour, every “this doesn’t make sense” moment--it’s all building blocks.
💡 You might not see how it connects right now. But trust, it’s preparing you for what’s next.

So if you’ve been questioning your past or downplaying what comes naturally to you…

Don’t.

God wastes nothing.

And everything you’ve ever done might just be training for your biggest miracle yet.

Now--speaking of joy-filled spaces I was born to host…

Again, don’t miss your chance to grab one of the 52 early bird tickets for THEE HBCU BINGO EXPERIENCE.

This is the party I was made for--and YOU need to be in that room.

🎟️ MoveInDayMafia.org/Bingo

Let’s make memories. Let’s make moments. Let’s make miracles.

Whew. If this story hit you like it hit me, drop a comment and let me know which part got you in your feelings. Especially if you helped make March’s miracles happen, please say somethin’ so I can love on you properly.

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter! See you next week.