Stephanie Perry of Fall River recognized for her dedication to the Greater Fall River community

BOSTON – Stephanie Perry of Fall River was honored last week as a member of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s 2025 class of Commonwealth. State Representative Carole Fiola nominated Perry for this recognition because of her continuous dedication to the Greater Fall River community.

“There are numerous women whose work make our community better,” stated Representative Fiola. “This year I wanted to honor Stephanie because she has worked tirelessly to advocate for her patients and the vulnerable in our community, especially those struggling with the disease of addiction,”.

Fiola’s Office stated that Stephanie is an experienced and dedicated healthcare professional with a career spanning over 25 years in human service and community street outreach. For the past 15 years, Stephanie has served as an Emergency Room Registered Nurse, providing critical care and support to patients in need in the Greater Fall River community.

Stephanie brings this experience to Southcoast Hospital’s Community Health and Wellness Program where she serves as the Team Lead for the Addiction Nurse Specialist team, addressing public health, social, addiction and education needs in collaboration with Community-based organizations.

Stephanie has expanded this service through her roles as Co-Chair Substance Addiction Task Force for the Greater Fall River Partners for Healthier Community and as a Peer 2 Peer Leadership Council Advisor for Steppingstone Inc. Stephanie is part of a group of professionals who outreach weekly to unhoused residents in hopes of getting them needed services.

Her dedication and leadership in the recovery space serves a critical need in our community.

Fiola’s Office noted that thousands of women in every community of the state perform unheralded acts on a daily basis that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities, and towns better places to live. “Commonwealth Heroines use their time, talent, spirit, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their community. They are the glue that keeps a community together.”

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is an independent state agency that was legislatively created in 1998 to advance women of the Commonwealth to full equality in all areas of life and to promote their rights and opportunities. The MCSW provides a permanent, effective voice for the women of Massachusetts.