2026 SESSION

ENROLLED

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 251

Commending Ambreen Ahmed.

Agreed to by the Senate, March 10, 2026

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 12, 2026

WHEREAS, Ambreen Ahmed dedicated more than 25 years and seven months between May 1999 and May 2025 to FAITH Social Services, rising to the position of vice president and serving with exceptional commitment until the program's closure; and

WHEREAS, Ambreen Ahmed brought to her work a rare combination of professional expertise and cultural competency, serving communities in English, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi, and consistently bridging gaps between marginalized communities and the social services available to them; and

WHEREAS, Ambreen Ahmed is a highly trained advocate in domestic violence prevention, having completed advanced training in domestic violence advocacy, danger assessment, legality assessment, and the SAFER Tool for risk and safety planning, as well as systemic advocacy training through the Praxis Advocacy Learning Center and the Citizens Police Academy; and

WHEREAS, Ambreen Ahmed served as a victim advocate with Fairfax County's supervised exchange and visitation program through FAITH Social Services, and devoted 16 years of service as a member of Fairfax County's Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team; and

WHEREAS, Ambreen Ahmed has served in leadership and advisory capacities with Fairfax County's Council to End Domestic Violence, the advisory board of Fairfax County's supervised visitation and exchange center for children, and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, the Commonwealth's statewide coalition on domestic and sexual violence; and

WHEREAS, Ambreen Ahmed made a lasting international contribution by designing a domestic violence shelter manual for Afghanistan in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense; and

WHEREAS, Ambreen Ahmed volunteered on a crisis line and at a domestic violence shelter, conducted extensive outreach within the Muslim community, and served as an observer at Fairfax County's anger management program and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, demonstrating a holistic commitment to justice and healing; and

WHEREAS, Ambreen Ahmed is a graduate of the University of Karachi (1978–1982) whose academic foundation has supported a lifetime of professional service and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, in retirement, Ambreen Ahmed continues her lifework through Rise and Rebuild, a new organization through which she channels her years of expertise in service to survivors of domestic violence; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ambreen Ahmed for her extraordinary career in domestic violence and sexual abuse prevention, her tireless advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our communities, and her enduring commitment to service that continues beyond the boundaries of any single position or organization; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ambreen Ahmed as an expression of the General Assembly's gratitude and highest regard for her contributions to the Commonwealth.