By Elijah Qualls
AFRO Interns
Imagine this: Having grown up in foster care, you are finally ready to move onto the campus of a historically Black college or university (HBCU). However, upon arrival, your social worker pulls up to the dorm, you get all of your belongings from the vehicle and then…he or she just leaves.
Though many students in foster care may have aspirations of attending college, less than 4 percent actually go on to earn a degree from a four-year institution, according to The National Foster Youth Institute. That’s because many grapple with a lack of financial stability, and family or other support systems–all the factors that boost college success.
Tee J Mercer, a Howard University alumna and founder of the Move-In Day Mafia, cites these disturbing statistics as her motivation.
“I asked God to show me what I could do to help. And the Move-In Day Mafia was born,” Mercer said. “I know one of the ways God created me was to bring joy. So I’m always looking for ways to bring people together.”
Her innate desire to help others has been the life force of this project. The Move-In Day Mafia helps students who have grown up in foster care that are seeking to attend HBCUs. Mercer and her unstoppable team of donors, volunteers and coworkers don’t just help move the students in their first year, they establish a bond with them and maintain that connection throughout their matriculation.
“HBCUs are historically underfunded,” Mercer said. “And as a result, they don’t necessarily have the funds to pay attention to the needs of this demographic.”
The Move-In Day Mafia also provides monthly care packages specifically catered to each student’s needs and wants which they indicate by filling out a list. From there, the volunteers and donors buy the desired items to send back to the HBCU students.
Jerravion Dunson is a rising junior studying business administration with a concentration in marketing at Clark Atlanta University, and he is a member of the Move-In Day Mafia family. He spoke with the AFRO about the opportunities afforded to him through Tee J and the Mafia’s guidance, even beyond the care packages and other tangible resources.
“The most recent thing Auntie Tee J invited me to was TSB Live,” Dunson said. “People are paying thousands of dollars to go to this event, but through the word of Auntie Tee J, I got to go there for free. I got to experience all of these different entrepreneurs, and I got to network with people who are making six or seven figures, all because of Auntie Tee J and me being a part of Move-In Day Mafia.”
These types of support systems are imperative for students transitioning from foster care to college because they often don’t have an established network. Mercer explained that recipients of this project’s largesse like Jerravion Dunson have gone on to enjoy great opportunities like interning on Capitol Hill and at Disney and studying abroad in Paris.
“They let us know that they’re able to do these kinds of things because they’re not worried about detergent, deodorant or toothpaste,” Mercer said. “They get to enjoy their experience.”
According to Mercer, the Move-In Day Mafia has experienced exponential growth: “We have moved in 84 scholars amongst 21 HBCUs.”
As the project expands, Mercer urges more donors and volunteers to get involved to strengthen the support infrastructure. Mercer calls her “mafia” – volunteers and donors – her miracle makers, because this movement has been built on miracles.
Along with preparing for move-in season, Mercer and her team are planning another Bingo fundraiser which will be hosted by actress, comedian and TV show host Sherri Shepherd. The Bingo night will be on July 12 in Atlanta at the Legendary Ford Hall. There will be food, prizes, blackjack, crap tables, and so much more. “This ain’t your grandmama’s bingo,” Mercer said.
For more information, visit the Move-In Day Mafia’s website.