Ahmed Akari Honored with the City of Alexandria’s SYEP 2025 Partner of the Year Award

Photographer Ahmed Akari was named the SYEP 2025 Partner of the Year by the City of Alexandria’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The award was presented by Mayor Alyia Gaskins and members of the Alexandria City Council during the program's Closing Ceremony.

The award inscription reads:

"SYEP 2025 Partner of the Year presented to Ahmed Akari in recognition of your dedication and creative contribution to SYEP, capturing its impact and amplifying youth stories through your lens."

Amplifying the Next Generation

The Summer Youth Employment Program provides young residents of Alexandria with hands-on work experience, mentorship, and professional development across local businesses and community organizations.

Through photography and storytelling, Akari worked to document this journey—capturing the energy, ambition, and achievements of these young leaders as they gained real-world skills and stepped into their futures.

Celebrating Community Impact

Hosted at Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus, the SYEP Closing Ceremony brought together youth participants, their families, local business leaders, and city partners to celebrate the cohort's accomplishments. Mayor Gaskins and City Council members joined the community in honoring the participants and program partners who contributed to the summer's success.

This award recognizes Ahmed Akari’s dedicated work as a City of Alexandria employee, highlighting his ability to bring creative vision and storytelling to his role. Through this work with the City of Alexandria Workforce Development Center (@wdcalexandria) and the Department of Community & Human Services, Akari captured the spirit of the program, helping to uplift local youth and amplify impactful stories across the Alexandria community.

(Photos by Mike Pullum)