2025 SESSION
ENROLLED
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 569
Commending Wathiq Alakelee.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 10, 2025
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
WHEREAS, Wathiq Alakelee has served as a mentor to many aspiring barbers, offering them guidance and support to help them in their careers; and
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
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
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Wathiq Alakelee as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth.