A Note from Ken Hersh, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center

Dear Friend,

As the first half of 2021 comes to an end and we have the opportunity to gather again in person at the Bush Center, two words come to mind: gratitude and hopefulness.

The challenges we have faced locally, nationally, and globally during this past year have been innumerable and at times daunting. However, with every challenge comes an opportunity. For our Nation and for the Bush Center, the opportunity has been the chance to focus on growth and progress. We increased the breadth of our reach by engaging with our constituencies, both online and in person, one of the lasting legacies of the crisis. I am confident that there will be others as well. We live in an age of discovery – an age that produced one of the highest efficacies for a vaccine in medical history in record time. This – and the many other technological and medical advancements resulting from the pandemic – gives me great hope. I am grateful for the opportunity to gather again in person and to hug our loved ones.
We’re close to being back to “normal” at the Bush Center. The Museum has fully reopened and resumed regular hours, and Café 43 is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday. We have a full lineup of in-person events on the schedule for the rest of the year, and many of my colleagues have traded their Zoom meeting links for conference rooms. It’s great to be back!

I enjoyed seeing many of you in person in April at this year’s Forum on Leadership <[link removed]>, when we were pleased to present Dr. Condoleezza Rice with the George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership. Dr. Rice shared important insights on the state of American democracy, the role America should play on the global stage, and much more. We also explored important topics with Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, Senator Tim Scott, and former House Speaker Paul Ryan, among others. Once again, the Bush Center was able to demonstrate our important role in convening the Nation’s thought leaders.
Speaking of leaders, in mid-April, President Bush released his New York Times bestseller, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants <[link removed]>. The book features a collection of 43 portraits that he painted. The portraits and their accompanying stories exemplify the promise of America and our proud history as a Nation of immigrants.
You may have caught the president in The Washington Post <[link removed]> urging Americans and Congress to humanize the debate on immigration reform or on the TODAY Show <[link removed]> leading a very special naturalization ceremony <[link removed]>.
While President Bush was on the road addressing the need for a change in rhetoric around immigration, we were firing on all cylinders at the Bush Center and Bush Institute to advance discussions around the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Our experts continue to push our policy recommendations, produce compelling content, and foster conversations <[link removed]> with our country’s most prominent thought leaders on the issue of immigration. They carry on building a national reputation as the compassionate conservative voice on these issues.
We invite you to come take an in-depth look at what we’ve been working on at the Out of Many, One <[link removed]>special exhibit at the Bush Center, open through January 2022.
In addition to this emphasis on immigration policy, our important work in education reform, veterans’ well-being, global health, human freedom, women’s empowerment, and leadership development remains in full force.
I encourage you to join us back at the Bush Center soon for one of our upcoming public programming events, lunch at Café 43, a walk in the Native Texas Park, or a visit to the special and permanent exhibits at the Museum. Of course, you can check out the expanse of our work at Bushcenter.org <[link removed]> at any time.
I am grateful for your continued interest in and support for our essential work. You have been, and continue to be, an integral part of our mission of engaging the world by developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to address today’s pressing challenges.

Sincerely,

Kenneth A. Hersh
President and CEO, George W. Bush Presidential Center



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