Meeja Richards
Photo by Lili Kobielski
Meeja Richards, a Korean American soccer fanatic passionately advocates for Descendants of Korean Adoptees (DoKADs) and their families, as well as Asian Pacific Americans in sports. As the mixed daughter of a Deaf mother adopted from Korea, Meeja understands firsthand the effects of intergenerational trauma and finding one's place in America. We believe this is a vital topic, resonating with a broad spectrum of New Yorkers and beyond:
What's the most epic thing that happened to you today?
Today, I mustered up the courage to apply for a DEI advisory board position at Brentford FC. It’s been a dream of mine to get more involved with business strategy and expand my reach in soccer. The game has given me so much, and I just want to give back.
Discovered any mind-blowing books recently?
I've been reading "The First Amerasians: Mixed Race Koreans from Camptowns to America" by Yuri Doolan, and it's truly eye-opening. It sheds light on how much Asian American history has been erased. Since moving to New York, I’ve started to reconnect with my Korean roots, and this book has become instrumental in helping me understand how war affects generations beyond what we see in our daily lives.
What’s the best and worst part about big city life?
The best part of big city life is that no matter how niche your hobbies or interests, you can find a group to share them. You want to trim bonsai trees while drinking wine and riding a unicycle? There’s probably a meetup for that. This is how I found a tight-knit community of Korean Americans in New York, outside of the church and without needing to speak the language. The worst part, of course, is the cost of living.
One thing you will never do again?
I will never again run away from the Korean aspect of my identity. I've waited so long to fully embrace who I am, and I can't imagine going back.
If you had a magic wallet that never ran out of money, what would you do first?
I would hire a private chef. I LOVE FOOD, so being able to afford the highest quality, amazingly prepared meals at all times is something I wouldn't take for granted. It's the Asian in me; we love to eat.
Who would you invite over for dinner: Biden or Trump?
I'd invite Trump. I love to play around and mess with people, so I'd bring a stopwatch and see how long it takes to wind him up.
