A Message from Bright Horizons CEO Stephen Kramer

December 30, 2019

A message from Bright Horizons CEO Stephen Kramer:


Bright Horizons Family,

This is supposed to be our season of joy. No matter your faith, it is a time when we spend time with friends, family, and colleagues to appreciate each other, celebrate the season, and enjoy the gift of togetherness.

This year, however, our joy is tempered by grief. In Texas, we are mourning the loss of church parishioners who were simply gathering in peace, when a gunman brought violence into their place of worship. And in New York, we are left stunned and horrified by the violence wreaked on family and friends simply enjoying a holiday celebrating the miracle of light.

My heart is especially heavy as I recognize that these are not isolated incidents. Deadly shootings in churches and in schools, violent acts of anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry have become all too common across our nation. We cannot tolerate this as a new norm for our home and our country. We cannot accept hate and terror as par for the course.

As good people committed to a shared mission, and as a community committed to giving to others who need us most, we must stand up united in the conviction that enough is enough. Through love, caring, and the education of the next generation, we can and must make a difference. We can and must change hearts and minds. And as educators and leaders, we have a unique opportunity to do that. It is, in fact, our obligation and our vocation.

Whether your daily work is with young children, teens, adult learners, or with each other, I ask that you be committed to more than tolerance and diversity. I ask you to be curious. Learn about each other, teach about differences, demystify what you or others do not understand, and celebrate what is unique about each and every one of us. Spread love and learning. Together we can change the world, starting right here at home.

Together in peace – happy new year,