Move-In Day Mafia

Move-In Day Mafia WHAT WE DO
Just as the original mafia takes care of its own, MIDM deploys to HBCU campuses to take care of OUR own. Enter the Move-In Day Mafia! We need YOU!

Move-In Day Mafia is a registered nonprofit that provides decked-out dorm rooms and monthly care packages for FOUR years to HBCU students who have aged out of kinship/foster care, are unhoused, or are navigating the demands of college mostly on their own. WHO WE ARE

An initiative of Project Dreamlight, a 501c3 nonprofit and the brainchild of Hollywood veteran, TeeJ Mercer, MIDM is a "mob" of volunteers from all walks of life. We have banded together with our time AND talents to primarily support an underserved demographic within the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) community– the students who have aged out of foster care. We deliver dorm room makeover experiences, hope, and resources primarily to freshmen who make this life-changing transition without familial, financial, and emotional support. Plus, we have scholars who have experienced homelessness or who need more financial support completing their education. WHY WE DO IT

70% of kids in foster care dream of going to college. But circumstances knock that dream down and just 3% of these dreamers go on to earn their degree. Therefore, those who enroll in college are already beating the odds. However, HBCUs often don’t have the resources to adequately address the needs of these trailblazers. Our mission is to disrupt the "Foster care to Prison" pipeline and replace it with the "Foster care to HBCU GRADUATE pipeline.”

HOW CAN YOU HELP? Join The Mafia and share your time, talent, or treasure. We need volunteers, mentors, donors, and sponsors as we expand to HBCUs across the country.

Meet L.J., a sophomore majoring in Computer Information Systems who loves soccer, gaming and exercise, and dreams of bec...
10/10/2026

Meet L.J., a sophomore majoring in Computer Information Systems who loves soccer, gaming and exercise, and dreams of becoming an FBI programmer so he can create a better future for his family.

L.J. entered foster care as a teenager after being removed from an abusive home. After already losing his father before he was born, he later left Honduras to reunite with his mother, only to face even more instability. Since then, he has learned a new language, graduated high school, and found purpose at Livingstone.

That is no small thing.

So when it came time to create his space, we wanted it to feel like HIM. Green, pink and purple. Clean, woody vibes. Touches inspired by soccer, gaming and the goals he’s still working toward every single day.

And THIS is what partnership looks like.

✨ A huge Mafia THANK YOU to the T.D. Jakes Foundation for helping us create spaces that do more than look good. Their support helps scholars like L.J. walk into a room that says, you belong here, your story matters, and your future is worth investing in.

Because Move-In Day isn’t just about decorating a dorm room. It’s about creating stability, dignity and a soft place to land for students who have had to fight hard just to get here.

Join us at the T7 Summit coming up on November 12-14 where Howard alum Taraji P. Henson will deliver the keynote and our work will be highlighted along with our founder, another Howard alum TeeJ Mercer.

Register at T7Summit.com and use code T7LEGACY50 for 50% off.

You thought you were just buying toothpaste? 👀Or a comforter. Or a snack from an Amazon wishlist.But what if I told you ...
10/09/2026

You thought you were just buying toothpaste? 👀
Or a comforter. Or a snack from an Amazon wishlist.

But what if I told you that something MUCH bigger was happening on the other side of that generosity?

At Move-In Day Mafia, we provide decked-out dorm rooms and monthly care packages for four years to HBCU scholars who have aged out of kinship/foster care, are unhoused, or are navigating college mostly on their own.

Because here's what we believe: When you remove the weight of survival, you make room for extraordinary things to happen.

And BABYYYYY, do I have some RECEIPTS!

Four of our Mafia scholars have been out here doing things that have me hollering, praising God, and wondering if these kids ever sleep!

And the beautiful part?

Our Mafia Miracle Makers helped make it possible.

Not by handing these scholars their accomplishments. These young people EARNED every single one. But by helping create the stability that allowed them to pursue those opportunities.

That's the difference between helping a student get TO college and helping them THRIVE IN college.

This week's Mafia Miracles Report is called THE RECEIPTS EDITION.

And trust me, you're going to want to see these.
👇🏾 Read the receipts: LINK IN COMMENTS

Meet O.R., a junior majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice who loves diamond painting and singing, and dreams of he...
10/09/2026

Meet O.R., a junior majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice who loves diamond painting and singing, and dreams of helping children who grow up in orphanages understand that their story is only the beginning.

After losing her mother at seven and spending much of her childhood growing up without a family, O.R. came to Ohio alone to pursue college and worked multiple jobs to take care of herself. At Central State, she experienced having her own room for the very first time, and called it “golden.”

So when we created her space, we wanted it to feel just like that. Bubblegum pink. Bright yellow. Joy. A room that feels warm, bright and fully hers.

And THIS is what partnership looks like.

✨ A huge Mafia THANK YOU to the T.D. Jakes Foundation for helping us show up for scholars like O.R. in such a meaningful way. Because this is bigger than decor. It is about creating spaces that say, you matter, you belong, and you are worthy of something beautiful.

Join us at the T7 Summit coming up on November 12-14 where Howard alum Taraji P. Henson will deliver the keynote and our work will be highlighted along with our founder, another Howard alum TeeJ Mercer!

Register and use code T7LEGACY50 for 50% off. (LINK in comments!)

Meet A.C., a junior Social Work major who loves movie nights, anime, superheroes and a good R&B soundtrack.After losing ...
10/08/2026

Meet A.C., a junior Social Work major who loves movie nights, anime, superheroes and a good R&B soundtrack.

After losing his mother at five, A.C. spent nearly fourteen years navigating foster care, group homes, shelters and unstable placements. Eventually, he made a decision that changed the trajectory of his life: he bet on himself.

That bet paid off.

He became the first person in his family to graduate high school, made it to college, and is now studying Social Work because he refuses to let another young person feel forgotten the way he once did.

So when it came to his room, we wanted his space to reflect HIM. Blue. Black. Silver. Anime. Marvel. DC. A little superhero energy for a young man writing his own origin story. 🦸🏾‍♂️

And THIS is what partnership looks like.

✨A huge Mafia THANK YOU to the T.D. Jakes Foundation for helping us create more than beautiful dorm rooms. Their support helps us give scholars like A.C. a space that says, you belong here, somebody sees you, and you do not have to do this alone.

Because Move-In Day isn’t just about decorating a room.

It’s about creating the stability our scholars need so they can stop surviving long enough to start building what comes next.

And A.C.?

He plans to build an international nonprofit serving at-risk youth. 💜

Join us at the T7 Summit coming up on November 12-14 where Howard alum Taraji P. Henson will deliver the keynote and our work will be highlighted along with our founder, another Howard alum TeeJ Mercer!

Register today and use code T7LEGACY50 for 50% off. (LINK in comments!)

Meet M.A., a senior Exercise Science major who loves working out, swimming and cooking, and dreams of becoming a dietiti...
10/06/2026

Meet M.A., a senior Exercise Science major who loves working out, swimming and cooking, and dreams of becoming a dietitian or physical therapist so she can help families build healthier futures together.

For three years, she has carried college almost entirely on her own, working long hours just to stay enrolled while still pushing toward the finish line.

So when it was time to create her space, we wanted it to feel like a deep exhale. Neutral tones. Blue, grey, black and green. Clean, earthy vibes. A room that feels calm, grounded and fully hers.

And THIS is what partnership looks like.

✨ A huge Mafia THANK YOU to the T.D. Jakes Foundation for pouring into our scholars and helping us create spaces that do more than look good. They remind students like M.A. that after everything they’ve carried, they deserve beauty, peace and support too.

Because Move-In Day isn’t just about decorating a dorm room.

It’s about honoring the strength it took to get here and making sure our scholars know they do not have to keep doing hard things alone.

Join us at the T7 Summit coming up on November 12-14 where Howard alum Taraji P. Henson will deliver the keynote and our work will be highlighted along with our founder, another Howard alum TeeJ Mercer!

Register at T7Summit.com and use code T7LEGACY50 for 50% off.

Meet A.J., a freshman Political Science major who loves community service, hiking, nature and music, and dreams of one d...
10/05/2026

Meet A.J., a freshman Political Science major who loves community service, hiking, nature and music, and dreams of one day creating a social enterprise that helps people experiencing homelessness find jobs, training and hope.

So when we asked what SHE wanted her new space to feel like, we listened. Green. Pink. Purple. Peace. A room that feels like hers.

And THIS is what partnership looks like.

✨ A huge Mafia THANK YOU to the T.D. Jakes Foundation for investing in our scholars and helping us turn blank dorm rooms into places where they can exhale, settle in and start dreaming bigger.

Because Move-In Day isn’t just about making a room pretty.

It’s about reminding a student who has spent far too much time in survival mode: You are here. You are supported. And you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself anymore.

Join us at the T7 Summit coming up on November 12-14 where Howard alum Taraji P. Henson will deliver the keynote and our work will be highlighted along with our founder, another Howard alum TeeJ Mercer.

Register today and use code T7LEGACY50 for 50% off. (LINK IN COMMENTS!)

Today's the last day for Adopt A Scholar Week and we still have schools that need us.These aren't big asks. But they're ...
09/21/2026

Today's the last day for Adopt A Scholar Week and we still have schools that need us.

These aren't big asks. But they're real asks from real scholars who are almost at the finish line.

Every single dollar today means we close stronger. Every item cleared means our scholars start their next chapter knowing someone believed in them.

If you've already given this week, thank you. Truly. If you haven't, there's still time.

Head over to the wishlists: LINK IN COMMENTS

👉🏾 If shopping isn't your thing, you can also donate and we'll handle what needs to be handled.

Thank you, Miracle Maker!

A few weeks ago, one of our mentors went to visit a new scholar.Not for anything official. Just to introduce herself. Ju...
09/20/2026

A few weeks ago, one of our mentors went to visit a new scholar.

Not for anything official. Just to introduce herself. Just to show up.

While she was there, she started admiring the room. The little details. The things that had been added.

And the scholar said something that the mentor sent straight to me: "I never had a room with everything in it that was all the things I love.”

I have been sitting with that ever since.
That is not a small thing to say.

These scholars are so used to making do. So used to being grateful for whatever shows up. Most of them have never been in a room and thought, this is exactly what I would have picked.

Move-in day is just the beginning. That is when we knock on the door. But it is what we do after that, the check-ins, the care packages, showing up month after month, that is when they start to let us in.

Their trust.

You cannot rush that. You just have to keep showing up.

A pillow with her favorite scripture is what showing up looks like. And you made that possible.

We have 48 hours left in this month's Adopt A Scholar Week.

Adopt A Scholar Week runs from the 14th–21st each month, giving YOU the chance to support HBCU scholars by purchasing items directly from their personalized Amazon wish lists.

Head over to our scholars’ wish lists or donate! LINK IN COMMENTS

Something happened this Move-In season that I haven’t been able to shake.Every Mafia scholar fills out a detailed Gettin...
09/19/2026

Something happened this Move-In season that I haven’t been able to shake.

Every Mafia scholar fills out a detailed Getting to Know You form.

Favorite toothpaste. Deodorant. Detergent. Cereal. Snacks. All of it.

One scholar asked for an extension because the form gave him anxiety.

Why?

Nobody had ever asked him what his favorites were.

And when I asked other scholars, I heard the same thing.

These kids are used to making do with whatever is available. Many have never been asked: “What do YOU like? What do YOU want? What is YOUR favorite?”

That’s what makes Adopt-A-Scholar different.

They choose. We listen.

From $3 snacks and toothpaste to personal care products, school supplies and special treats, we buy for THEM.

Because their preferences matter. THEY matter.

Adopt-A-Scholar is open through the 21st!

Shop their Amazon wish lists or donate and we’ll handle the rest.

👉 LINK IN COMMENTS

A donor soft-checked me last week.And I got some get-right real quick.This week's Mafia Miracles Report is about what sh...
09/19/2026

A donor soft-checked me last week.

And I got some get-right real quick.

This week's Mafia Miracles Report is about what she said. And honestly? I haven't stopped thinking about it since. (LINK IN COMMENTS)

Also...we're announcing a winner for our "GUESS WHAT CAUSED THIS EXPRESSION." PIC 🎉

PLUS!

We are in the final stretch of September's Adopt A Scholar Week. Items start at $3. Deadline is the 21st.

Adopt A Scholar Week runs from the 14th–21st each month, giving YOU the chance to support HBCU scholars by purchasing items directly from their personalized Amazon wish lists.

Head over to our scholars’ wish lists. Link in comments!

Address

1700 Northside Drive NW; #A7-1673
Atlanta, GA
30318

Telephone

+18552678335

Website

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