From Para-Professional to Cultural Icon: Kid Mero’s Homecoming at Lehman College

The Kid Mero headlines the 2026 Lehman Lecture. From right, artists Rumarie Denizard, Tasheba Gallimore, and Estephanie Quiroz; Mero; and interviewers Julisha Evans and Molly Varillas

By Jainabou Sakho

The atmosphere in the Lovinger Theatre was electric on March 31 as Lehman College gave a massive welcome to one of its most successful alumni, the Bronx-born and -based Dominican comedian and media powerhouse, the one and only Kid Mero. Taking place in the Speech and Theatre Building, the event was way more than just a celebrity appearance; it was a homecoming for a Lehman graduate who has reached the levels of the New York Times best-seller list and the NAACP Image Awards.

After his entrance to thunderous applause, Mero had an in-depth conversation led by two Lehman students, Julisha Evans, a junior film major and a journalism minor, and Molly Varillas, a senior business administration major. Proceeding straight to the humor that has made him well-known, Mero declared, “Brooklyn is dirtier than the Bronx!” and the audience laughed their lungs out.

He started with Brooklyn gentrification but quickly moved to the pride that he feels for his home borough. “The environment shapes who you are,” Mero told the audience. Being born and raised in the Bronx, he said, made him independent and gave him the hustle necessary to make it in life. He also spoke of the beauty of the borough that mostly gets ignored by the media, highlighting free Bronx Zoo Wednesdays alongside Botanical Gardens serenity. “We always hear about the bad in the Bronx, but there is so much good here.”

“You never do it on your own." -- Bronx-born media powerhouse Kid Mero

Mero’s journey was not always glamorous. He candidly spoke about encounters as a para-professional making only $20,000 annually. He made use of his platform to warn students about the industry: “Know your worth and know who you are.” He also emphasized, “Everyone needs a team to help them be successful. You never do it on your own.”

He advised aspiring creatives such as filmmakers that success is not just about being in front of the camera; the industry needs talented editors and camera operators. He also congratulated Evans, one of his interviewers, on her professionalism, praising her for taking her craft seriously. Furthermore, Mero made it clear that he is not willing to change the way he speaks or dresses so as to impress others. He urged students, “Always stay the same: it doesn't matter who you're next to.”

The conversation touched on a little bit of everything—from his love for the Yankees as he recalled the 1996 Championship, to the Knicks, to his favorite Bronx rappers, like Slick Rick and A Boogie. He threw in a joke about adult life struggles, such as his “horrible” behaviors in managing time and the pain of inflation, recalling how, “One dollar took us far back in the day.”

A collaborative mural accompanying the event also celebrated teamwork and community. Supported by Gina Dominique Hersey, the chair of the Art Department, it was composed by student artists including Tasheba Gallimore, Estephanie Quiroz, and Rumarie Denizard, who worked together to create a collage based on photos taken off campus.

For Danna Carmona, a Lehman student, the entire event was a semester highlight. “I had so much fun,” she said, adding she was genuinely surprised and moved by the people who showed up and showed out for the Bronx legend. By the time Mero left the stage, his message had landed clearly: Be real, be consistent, and do not forget where you came from.