WE'RE BUILDING A MAFIA AIRPORT

Last week, I had a meeting with a wonderful donor who slapped me in the face with her words and changed my mindset.

But first...

If you are new here, welcome to the Mafia Miracles Report. I'm TeeJ, the person responsible for steering this ship. Move-In Day Mafia provides decked-out dorm rooms and monthly care packages to HBCU scholars who have aged out of foster and kinship care, are unhoused, or are navigating college completely on their own.

We do this for four years: move-in day, and every month after, until they walk across that stage.
This is where we celebrate the miracles.

So this amazing partner has been watching what Move-In Day Mafia has built. And she wants to invest more.

But before even told me what she wanted to do, she hit me with something.

Because I said something I have said probably a thousand times.

I told her that Move-In Day Mafia has always operated by building the plane as we fly it.

And she looked at me and said: Stop saying that.

She explained: TeeJ. The plane is built. It has been in the air. It has proven it can go from destination to destination.

She continued: what we need to do now is help you build an airport.

I shut up immediately and let that sink in. And I've not stopped thinking about it. I immediately had ChatGpt generate the pic in the header so I can print it out and hang on my refrigerator as a reminder.
She is absolutely right.

In four years, Move-In Day Mafia has moved in 127 scholars at 32 HBCUs. We started with HBCU Bingo in 2020, where we raised over $1 million in cash prizes in less than four weeks.

We have partnered with Fortune 500s. Fortune 50s. And recently, the T.D. Jakes Foundation made Mafia history by awarding us the largest grant we have ever received.

So no...this plane is not being built anymore.

It IS built. It is in the air. And it has landed and taken off, time and time again!

So now? We are building an airport. Gate by gate. Terminal by terminal.

And I just wanted you to know that. Because YOU are part of why this plane ever got off the ground in the first place.


AND THE WINNER IS...

A few weeks ago, we shared this pic.

Just a face. A scholar's face, to be exact. Big eyes. Bigger smile. A scream you could almost hear through the screen. And we asked you one question: what do YOU think caused that reaction?

The guesses came in. We put the right ones in a drawing. And our winner is...

​Divers! Congratulations! Your Mafia merch is on the way. 🎉 We will be in touch to get your address!

Now. Wanna know what caused all that excitement in the pic?

Meet R.M.

R.M. is a freshman at one of our HBCUs we moved in scholars in August. Somewhere along the way, this youngster picked up a love for sewing and crocheting. So when Move-In Day Mafia showed up with supplies to feed THAT dream? Baaaaaaby. That face said everything.

We didn't just move R.M. into a dorm room. We said yes to who he already is. That's the whole point.
Move-In Day Mafia doesn't just show up with a pretty dorm room and call it a day.

Nikki Klugh Design Group designs every single room. Every one. And they bring the same care and intention to a dorm room that most people bring to a home.

But here's the thing that consistently makes scholars lose their minds.

That we listened. That we see who they actually are. Not just what they need.

Not just a student who aged out of foster care.

Not just a young person who needs a bed.

A whole person. With interests. And gifts. And dreams that have nothing to do with surviving.

R.M. put sewing and crocheting on their intake form.

So we got R.M. a sewing machine.

$105.

​And THAT face? That's what $105 and paying attention looks like.

Every month when our scholars submit their care package requests, they have to finish a sentence. They choose one:

“I’m grateful that…”
“I’m excited that…”
“I’m looking forward to…”
​
So we like to share some with you:

ADOPT A SCHOLAR WEEK

If you didn't know, move-in day is just the beginning of what we do.

Every month, our scholars receive care packages. And right now, we are in the middle of Adopt A Scholar Week.

You can go in and purchase items directly. Things our scholars actually asked for.

Items start at $3.

If you don't like shopping, you can always donate and we handle the rest.

Items must be purchased by September 21st.

See the Wish Lists here. 

I'll see you next week!

Hug yourself for me. 💜

TeeJ

P.S. Know somebody who would love this story? Send it to them. The more people who see what you all are building with us, the more scholars we can say yes to.