Mahjida Berryman, Supervisor of Injury Prevention at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, has emerged as a leading voice in harm reduction and public health innovation. She was honored with the Syringe Services Program (SSP) of the Year Award, recognizing her leadership in protecting community health and expanding access to life-saving services.

As the organizer of the annual Chalk Walk for Overdose Awareness Day, Berryman brings hundreds of community members together to remember loved ones lost, raise awareness, and spark action in the fight against addiction. The event has become one of the region’s most impactful gatherings for healing and advocacy.

Berryman also spearheaded the launch of naloxone vending machines at the Lucas County Correctional Center, making Lucas County one of the first in Ohio to offer this life-saving initiative inside a jail. By providing access to overdose-reversal medication for individuals reentering the community, she is helping save lives and setting a model for correctional facilities across the state.

A dedicated advocate, Berryman combines compassion with innovation to address urgent public health challenges, building systems of support and awareness that will benefit the community for years to come.