DEAR BURKE COMMUNITY, Every day, I see the steady progress of the New Burke building taking shape. As communities at home and around the globe grapple with the effects of tumultuous social, political and natural forces, it gives me a reason to be optimistic. The New Burke is more than just a building, it’s a physical manifestation of our mission, and a new dedication to transparency and community involvement. The New Burke will connect people to the research, science and stories we need to understand changes in the world—and how to make positive change in the future. Bringing the New Burke to life will require shifts in nearly every aspect of the museum. More than a decade of planning has laid the foundation for this transformation. Today, the Museum needs a mission statement that captures its bold vision. This spring, the Burke engaged hundreds of stakeholders through online and in-person interviews to ask how the Museum can best meet their needs. The new mission statement reaffirms the Burke’s role as the steward of the Washington state collections of natural history and culture. Most importantly, it reflects our equal commitment to sharing the collections, so that everyone has the opportunity to learn, be inspired, generate knowledge, feel joy, heal—and so much more. Thank you for your support. Without you, none of this would be possible. With gratitude, Dr. Julie K. Stein Burke Museum Executive Director Coral Reef Photos/Barry Brown