New United Way director felt called to help people out of poverty

2022 marks a transition year for the United Way of Forsyth County, with new leadership for the first time in more than a decade.

Antonia Monk Richburg is a native of Smithfield and holds undergraduate and advanced degrees from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Ph.D. in leadership studies from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.

In an introductory Zoom meeting last month, Richburg said her life experiences gave her a calling to help families move out of poverty.

“I lived in a home with no phone, washer, or dryer, and we had no car until I was 9," she says. "I know what it's like to go to the emergency room with no insurance and watch my mom advocate for medical care for me, although she worked every day, but could not afford medical insurance. So I wake up every day with a desire to help our most vulnerable populations.”

As CEO, Richburg says her first goal is to establish new relationships and restore old ones to strengthen business and community partnerships.

Richburg has been the organization’s CEO since October.

She took over for Cindy Gordineer, who had led the organization since 2011 before retiring this year.