Melissa Funderburk

Activist | LGBTQI Advocate | Motivational Speaker | DEI Trainer | Community Organizer | Project Manager | NAACP Carolyn Q. Coleman Trailblazer Award Recipient | Women’s Empowerment Leader | National & International Outstanding Leadership Award Recipient

Melissa Funderburk, affectionately known as "Queen" Melissa, has always been open about her life experiences. Growing up in North Carolina’s foster care system, she faced homelessness and left school in the 7th grade to become a single teenage mother raising a chronically ill child. Her journey has taken her from protesting in the streets for racial justice to pursuing higher education and becoming a leader in advocacy and empowerment.

As an activist and community organizer, Melissa is deeply engaged in social justice efforts, working with organizations such as the Charlotte JustUS League and the NC Community Action Network. She has served as a panelist for the Dr. Maya Angelou Institute for Health & Equity and is a proud member of the Speaker’s Bureau for Warren & You representing the Continent of South Africa.

In her current work, Melissa trains leaders, organizations, and communities to collaborate in building stronger, sustainable futures for Historically Marginalized People (HMP). Her motivational speaking engagements inspire youth, women, and individuals seeking empowerment, while her educational sessions focus on equipping HMP communities with the tools needed to thrive.

Melissa holds:

• MBA & MA in Organizational Management (specializing in Marketing)

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration (specializing in Project Management)

• Certifications in Comparative Equality & Anti-Discrimination Law, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Workplace Interventions, Mental Health Instruction, GEMBA (Business Management Lean methodology), and more

• Membership in Project Management Institute (PMI), NBMBAA (National Black MBA Association)

Melissa’s passion is to uplift, encourage, and give hope through speaking engagements, training, and advocacy.

Her motto: "LET’S MAKE IT DO WHAT IT DO!"