The Very Asian Foundation

The Very Asian Foundation is committed to shining a light on Asian experiences through advocacy and celebration. The organization aims to provide support and resources for the expansion of Asian stories and experiences, as well as to provide grant funding to organizations working within Asian communities to elevate voices and promote greater inclusivity. On New Year's Day 2022, Michelle read a 25-second news segment on what Americans eat on the holiday, and at the end briefly mentioned she ate dumplings as a tradition. Afterward, a viewer left a racist voicemail message calling Michelle "very Asian" and said she needed to "keep her Korean to herself." She also said Michelle needed to talk about what white people ate because white people would get fired if they had a chance to talk about what they eat for the holidays. The voicemail went viral, #veryasian trended globally, and Michelle and her friend, another veteran and award-winning journalist named Gia Vang, created merchandise that sold all over the world. By amplifying Asian American stories and voices in all the places we live, we can build stronger and healthier communities. We are not a monolith, we are not living in silos, we are multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and we are not invisible. We live in the heart of the country as well as the coasts. We contribute to our communities and deserve humanity, belonging, and an understanding that we are not perpetually foreign. As a journalist-founded organization, we have the ability to tell stories and impact newsrooms and communities in a unique but fair way. We approach our work in a problem-solving manner, and we support our fellow journalists and community builders who want to work together toward building a better future for us all.