Howard Alumna Supports HBCU Students Through Innovative “Move-In Day Mafia” Concept

TeeJ Mercer, a joyous Howard University alumna and philanthropist, along with fellow do-gooders, know that little things can add up to mean a lot. They spread joy to HBCU freshmen, transforming their dorm rooms into comfy, stylish spaces and by blessing them with care packages.

“Our official description is “Move-In Day Mafia [Mafia],” a “mob” of volunteers who descend upon HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) to provide dorm room makeovers and monthly care packages for four years to students who have aged out of foster care, are unhoused, or grapple with severe financial hardships,” Mercer explained.

The author, speaker and media coach who is based in Atlanta, Georgia, spent 25 years working in Hollywood as an award-winning TV editor and producer. 

“I’m turning Mafia into a dorm room makeover show,” said Mercer. “My life’s purpose and divine assignment is to be a joy-bringer,” Mercer added.

TeeJ’s HBCU Bingo sparked the “Move-In Day Mafia” concept in 2020. Mercer has just moved to Atlanta, Georgia from Los Angeles, California. The world had shut down for the pandemic. Graduation cancellations began. Then, Mercer created a virtual Bingo game that surprisingly took off.

“Being a graduate of Howard University and an advocate for HBCUs, I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. I prayed and asked God to show me what I could do to bring joy to these graduates. My answer? TeeJ’s HBCU BINGO! I tapped into my active social media following, told them my idea, and asked for help,” she said.

Mercer added, “As a result, we raised over S1 million in cash and prizes in less than four weeks, and we gave it to the 2020 grads of HBCUs in a series of epic virtual Bingo games! Our prizes ranged from cold, hard cash, to Mac computers, to resume services, to vocal coaching, to LinkedIn consults.”

The graduates received nearly $2,000 in prizes just for registering. Almost 500 graduates played the game over the course of four Saturdays in June 2020, according to Mercer.

TeeJ’s HBCU Bingo made the national news. “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell” wanted to interview her and a graduate who played the game. That is when Mercer learned about the student who inspired Mafia.

“When she [the student] started at her HBCU, she’d aged out of foster care. Her social worker drove her to campus, pulled up to the curb, let her unload what little she had, and left her. That broke my heart. So once again, I prayed and asked God to show me what I could do so that no student had to go through this transition alone and Move-In Day Mafia was born!” Mercer exclaimed. 

During the first Move-In Day Mafia year, 13 students were located at Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas. Thirty-one students were located at five HBCU’s in the second. Then, this year, 44 students will be served at nineteen HBCUs.

HBCU students apply around May of each year. 

“We provide each scholar with a team of volunteers on move-in day to set up their individually designed dorm room created by an interior design firm, Nikki Klugh Design Group. It is a surprise to see their room completely done for them, plus all of the decorations, hygiene and household essentials, along with favorite snacks. And yes, we walk with them for four years,” said Mercer.

Mercer also stated that 70% of kids in foster care dream of college; 3% see their dream realized; and 1% graduate.

“We are on a mission to demolish the foster care to prison pipeline and build a foster care to HBCU GRADUATE pipeline,” she said.

Move-In Day Mafia is composed of all volunteers such as LaTerra Wise, an office manager from Salisbury, Maryland. She chose to get involved with Mafia because she loves the mission. 

“Like TeeJ, I never considered this population when it came to moving into college. After moving my daughter into her dorm, I couldn’t fathom a student navigating that process alone, so I knew I had to help in any way I could,” the project manager for Move-In Day Mafia explained.

Mercer noted that $3,800 covers a scholar’s move-in essentials and monthly care packages for a school year. There is only one more 2024-2025 HBCU Move-In Day Mafia event left to do. “Prairie View is a two-parter. One on Sept 7, 2024, and the final [one] is on September 28,” Mercer noted.

“Our scholars have landed internships with a judge, a bank, a mayor’s office. One became ‘Mr. Sophomore,’” Mercer also shared. “All because we’ve freed up time and mental bandwidth for them to explore and grow.”Visit https://www.moveindaymafia.org to learn more about Move-In Day Mafia, donate to the cause, or to volunteer.