A Note from Ken Hersh, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center
Dear John,
As I look back on 2022, I am humbled by the work of the George W. Bush Presidential Center to be a positive force in a world of immense challenges. This year, our team has worked tirelessly to strengthen our own democracy, promote opportunity for all, and support freedom around the world.
On the global front, the Bush Center team is hard at work utilizing our platforms to amplify voices for good. Bush Institute Executive Director David J. Kramer has led our strong response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine <[link removed]> through speaking engagements, media appearances, and op-eds in places like The Washington Post and The xxxxxx. He has led our entire global team in advancing the cause for freedom.
Our Struggle for Freedom <[link removed]> conference in November tackled how to stand up for democracy around the world in the face of despots like Russia’s Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and Afghanistan’s Taliban.
At the conference, President Bush reminded us that “if the United States does not lead, the world will not follow” and “our leadership is indispensable for collective action against autocracy.”
We also heard from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who noted that “Taiwan is now in the position to share its experience with the world and create alliances, allowing democracies to more effectively deal with crises and counter the threats of authoritarianism.”
Most Americans still support standing with others around the world in their fight for human rights and freedom, a HarrisX national poll <[link removed]> commissioned by the Bush Institute and Freedom House showed in November.
The Bush Institute condemned the Iranian regime’s lethal crackdown on women’s rights protesters following the heinous death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini with a statement <[link removed]> from then-Executive Director Holly Kuzmich and a discussion <[link removed]> with Presidential Leadership Scholar Mariam Memarsadeghi, an advocate for democracy rights in Iran. Mrs. Laura Bush joined other former first ladies in signing an open letter <[link removed]> calling for Iran’s removal from the U.N.’s Commission on the Status of Women.
We were proud to highlight great champions of freedom and opportunity at the Bush Center at our annual Forum on Leadership <[link removed]> in April. Retired Marine Corps General James Mattis, the 26th U.S. Secretary of Defense, gave a keynote address <[link removed]> about how vital America’s voice is to advancing freedom and prosperity at home and around the world. Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III was presented with the George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership.
Mrs. Bush presented <[link removed]> Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, the Executive Director of the Afghan Institute for Learning, with the George W. Bush Institute Citation for her monumental work providing education, health, and training services to the underserved in Afghanistan. And Bonton Farms CEO Daron Babcock, a social entrepreneur helming one of the largest U.S. urban farms in a once-forgotten South Dallas neighborhood, received the George W. Bush Trailblazer Citation <[link removed]>.
Domestically, our emphasis this year has been on how we can strengthen our democracy while also enhancing the quality of life for all Americans.
In May, we hosted Elections – A More Perfect Union <[link removed]>, our event on rebuilding trust in America’s free, fair, and secure elections. We heard from President Bush, other leading experts, historians, and secretaries of state who explained the threats to and solutions for domestic election integrity. This is the start of an important workstream here at the Bush Institute.
Our leadership programming also continues apace. The Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program recently welcomed its fourth class <[link removed]> into the alumni community, and we were privileged to host the first-ever reunion of the veteran-serving leaders in August. The Presidential Leadership Scholars <[link removed]> also experienced an excellent program year. I continue to be amazed by the impressive leaders in both these programs and the impact they are having in their communities. Through our leadership programming, we can multiply our impact.
Our work to ensure opportunity for all, strengthen democracy, and advance free societies continues in other areas, such as our Education team’s efforts to help schools and students tackle learning loss due to the pandemic. Our Veteran and Military Families team’s work to smooth veterans’ pathways into civilian life took a giant leap forward this year with the national rollout of Check-In <[link removed]> , a safe, efficient, reliable tool powered by our Veteran Wellness Alliance that connects veterans to high-quality mental and brain health care.
In 2023, we’ll celebrate the 20th anniversary of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), begun by President Bush. PEPFAR <[link removed]> is one of the most successful global health, foreign aid, and development programs in U.S. history – one that has saved 25 million lives, prevented millions of HIV infections, and fights the global HIV/AIDS pandemic in more than 50 countries. It is an example of bipartisan work that shows the world America’s best. We need to continue being a force for good to remind the world what we stand for.
As we close the year, I want to send my sincere thanks for your support and interest in our work. I also want to express my gratitude to our outstanding Bush Center team and particularly Holly Kuzmich, who ended her highly successful nine-year tenure as Bush Institute Executive Director earlier this year. I also want to congratulate our new Executive Director David J. Kramer, who is leading the Bush Institute into its next chapter.
Thanks to your generous support and the hard work of everyone here, we can make a difference for our Nation and our world in the years to come by promoting the timeless values of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion.
Sincerely,
Kenneth A. Hersh
President and CEO, George W. Bush Presidential Center
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