Henrico MHDS board to induct Piero posthumously into its hall of fame

The Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services Board will posthumously honor Alexis Piero as its 2024 Mary Ann Bergeron Hall of Fame honoree for her service, commitment and significant contributions to her field.

Piero, who died in November at 65, helped people suffering from substance use disorders for four years. While working at MHDS, Piero trained community members how to administer naloxone in order to reverse opioid overdoses, among many other responsibilities. She was one of the first peer counselors hired in the Adult Outpatient Substance Use Unit within the MHDS. Piero also worked towards breaking down barriers that prevented people from seeking the help they needed, according to county officials. Those efforts included being a part of Henrico’s first mobile substance use disorder team, which brings free health resources to two different neighborhoods a week.

Piero also was a member of the Addiction Task Force and Marcus Alert Workgroup, and was featured in Henrico’s Visible Video series. In 2023, she was awarded the Pioneer Peer Award by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services for her skills in educating, assisting, and advocating for those with substance use disorders and who identify as part of the LGBTQIA2s+ community.

Piero will be inducted into the Mary Ann Bergeron Hall of Fame June 20. The hall of fame is located in the MHDS building at 10299 Woodman Road.

Bergeron was the founding executive director of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards and served the association from 1989 to 2014.