TeeJ Mercer’s Move-In Day Mafia Transforms Foster Youth Lives
TeeJ Mercer, the creative force behind the nonprofit Move-In Day Mafia, was recently celebrated on The Sherri Shepherd Show for her exceptional work supporting foster youth at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Mercer, an alumna of Howard University and a 25-year veteran of Hollywood, launched Move-In Day Mafia in 2022. The organization outfits dorm rooms and delivers monthly care packages to students who have aged out of foster care or struggle with housing and finances. Since then, it has served 84 students across 21 HBCUs and achieved a remarkable 92% retention rate in 2024—a stark contrast to the 0% retention during its pilot phase.
The nonprofit’s personalized approach stands out: each room is designed by professionals, and students pick their own snacks, toiletries, and supplies. Mercer explained the emotional impact:
“The tears don’t fall when they see the beautiful rooms. They fall when they realize we paid attention to what makes them feel seen and loved.”
Her appearance on daytime TV not only generated laughs—thanks to a playful slip-up—but also spurred a wave of donations and volunteers. Sherri Shepherd, who has supported the cause for years, previously helped raise $55,000 through Celebrity Jeopardy and Celebrity Family Feud.
Today, Move-In Day Mafia motto is “Where dreams get the green light one dorm room at a time.” Its impact is tangible: scholars are thriving in internships at major companies, studying abroad, joining Greek life, and stepping into student leadership roles.
The organization’s next major event is Thee HBCU Bingo Experience, a vibrant fundraiser hosted by Sherri Shepherd in Atlanta on July 12.
