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Alexandria opened Black History Month with young artists sharing their visions of justice, equality and community through the city’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Student Poster Exhibition.

The 2026 exhibition began with a Feb. 1 awards ceremony at the Charles Houston Recreation Center. Families, educators and community members gathered for the unveiling of artwork created by Alexandria City Public Schools students in grades 2 through 5.

This year’s theme, “Dreaming Together: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future,” asked students to connect Dr. King’s message with their own hopes for what lies ahead. Their posters used crayons, markers, paint and mixed media to explore unity, fairness and community.

Ahamad Sekandari, a fifth grader at William Ramsay Elementary School, created a poster titled “Stop the Gangs.”

“I was inspired by Dr. King to create Stop the Gangs,” Sekandari said. “I don’t want people fighting and getting killed.”

The contest, now more than 30 years old, is sponsored by the Alexandria Black History Museum in partnership with the Office of Historic Alexandria. It has become a prominent local tradition and a central part of Alexandria’s Black History Month events.

Following the opening ceremony, the posters were displayed from Feb. 1 through March 1, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to see the students’ work throughout Black History Month. The exhibition was free and open to the public.

By combining art with civic history, the annual contest gives Alexandria students a visible role in honoring Dr. King’s legacy and imagining the future of their community.