Meeting a Moment: A Conversation with Michelle Li

It all began on New Year’s Day 2022 when KSDK-TV news anchor Michelle Li read a story on air about popular New Year’s Day foods, adding that she ate dumpling soup, as many Korean people do. A viewer left Michelle a voicemail expressing that she was being “very Asian” and encouraged her to “keep her Korean to herself.” That was the start of the hashtag #VeryAsian, which Michelle shared on social media along with the viewer’s voicemail. Thanks to an outpouring of support, she appeared on The Ellen Show where she received a check to start The Very Asian Foundation.

Join us as Michelle shares how she captured the moment to connect with people, celebrate and build community, and start a foundation at a rapid pace, all while being a journalist grounded in objectivity. She’ll also discuss the background of St. Louis’ Asian community and the barriers the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations faces.

The event begins with light refreshments and an opportunity for you to connect with fellow members and guests followed by the discussion and a question-and-answer session.