| 10 | 16 | | |
|---|
| 11 | 17 | | |
|---|
| 12 | 18 | | |
|---|
| 13 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Wathiq Alakelee, an accomplished businessman and barber and proprietor of The Confident Barbershop in Henrico County, has greatly served the Greater Richmond community by providing world-class haircuts at affordable prices; and |
|---|
| 14 | 20 | | |
|---|
| 15 | 21 | | WHEREAS, growing up in Iraq, Wathiq Alakelee learned the art of cutting hair at his uncle's barbershop and was soon providing haircuts to his family and neighbors; and |
|---|
| 16 | 22 | | |
|---|
| 17 | 23 | | WHEREAS, after graduating from business school and living for some time in Bahrain, where he had a career in insurance, Wathiq Alakelee was granted refugee status and moved to Richmond; and |
|---|
| 18 | 24 | | |
|---|
| 19 | 25 | | WHEREAS, soon thereafter, Wathiq Alakelee completed a formal barber training program, apprenticed under a licensed barber, and established himself at Taylor's Barbershop in downtown Richmond, where he gradually built a loyal clientele; and |
|---|
| 20 | 26 | | |
|---|
| 21 | 27 | | WHEREAS, in November 2020, Wathiq Alakelee took his career into his own hands by opening his own business, The Confident Barbershop, along Three Chopt Road in Henrico County; and |
|---|
| 22 | 28 | | |
|---|
| 23 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Wathiq Alakelee devoted himself to his business and gave great attention to every detail of the operation to ensure its success, spending months to source the shop's decor and equipment and emphasizing the importance of hospitality and service with his staff; and |
|---|
| 24 | 30 | | |
|---|
| 25 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Wathiq Alakelee named his business The Confident Barbershop both because his given name means confident in Arabic and because confidence is the feeling he wishes to instill in every customer he sees; and |
|---|
| 26 | 32 | | |
|---|
| 27 | 33 | | WHEREAS, The Confident Barbershop has thrived under Wathiq Alakelee's leadership, earning hundreds of five-star reviews on Google and drawing in more return customers every day; and |
|---|
| 28 | 34 | | |
|---|
| 29 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Wathiq Alakelee has served as a mentor to many aspiring barbers, offering them guidance and support to help them in their careers; and |
|---|
| 30 | 36 | | |
|---|
| 31 | 37 | | WHEREAS, Wathiq Alakelee's accomplishments with The Confident Barbershop are a testament to the power of the American Dream and what may be achieved through exceptional dedication and hard work; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 32 | 38 | | |
|---|
| 33 | 39 | | RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Wathiq Alakelee hereby be commended for his legacy of service in the Greater Richmond community; and, be it |
|---|
| 34 | 40 | | |
|---|