Transfer-In Day Mafia (MIDM), a non-profit group that focuses on what under-served HBCU freshmen want to start out their school profession on move-in day at Prairie View A&M, Paul Quinn School, and Fisk College School, was based by Hollywood veteran and Howard College alumni, TeeJ Mercer.
Transfer-In Day Mafia (MIDM), a program of Venture Dreamlight 501(c)3, was established in 2022 and contains a “mob” of volunteers who go to HBCUs (Traditionally Black Schools & Universities) to supply dorm room makeovers and ongoing help – primarily for freshmen who’ve aged out of foster care, are homeless, or require extra monetary help.
Whereas 70% of youngsters in foster care are thought to have school as a objective, solely 3% really enroll and just one% full their levels. Their success is impacted by quite a lot of elements, together with unstable housing and little household assist, which places a heavy monetary pressure on them.
Decided to handle the appalling commencement fee, founding father of MIDM, award-winning TV Editor & Producer, TeeJ Mercer, mentioned, “How can college students focus, create, and thrive when they’re apprehensive about their fundamental human wants? I simply need them to go to high school and never must work two or three jobs to deal with themselves. The one factor they need to be involved about is finding out onerous, partying, making reminiscences, and finally graduating,” Black Information reported.
The non-profit relocated 13 freshmen to Paul Quinn School in Dallas for its first yr in 2022, with the help of benefactors and their company companions – Commerce & Journey, NJ Luke Publishing, and Nikki Klugh Design Group. The “household” is sponsoring three universities: Paul Quinn School (Dallas, TX), Prairie View A&M College (close to Houston, TX), and Fisk College (Nashville, TN) for the subsequent 2023–2024 tutorial yr.
This yr, the Transfer-In Day Mafia will present help to nearly 40 college students at three HBCUs, together with Fisk College, which was chosen due to its distinguished historical past, the sheer variety of college students who stand to achieve from this system, and the truth that Mercer is a local of Tennessee.
“We now have to deal with this demographic of scholars as a result of they’re already beating the percentages. And so, between all of these three issues, it was a no brainer that we had been going to do Fisk College this yr,” Mercer mentioned to WSMV.
The scholars are supplied with a totally furnished dorm room on move-in day, in addition to a TV, fridge, and microwave (if not already supplied by the college), art work, faculty provides, hygiene merchandise, cleansing provides, storage choices, and far more.
“We need to guarantee they keep targeted on simply being a scholar with out having to fret about detergent, deodorant, and toothpaste,” Mercer famous.
Past serving to college students settle into their rooms, the group additionally gives ongoing assist throughout the educational yr.
