AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT — After spending three and a half months at a U.S. military base, an Afghan family of six has recently resettled in the Chicago area, reports Leah Hope of ABC 7. Volunteers from Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation helped welcome the family with food and shelter on their move-in day, with most furniture provided by the Chicago Furniture Bank. "It’s the story of our community having once been immigrants and refugees to this country[,] and we see it as our obligation to extend welcome to those who are looking for services and support today," said Jessica Schaffer, Jewish Child & Family Services Chicago Director of HIAS Immigration & Citizenship.  

On the local welcome front: 

• In partnership with Refugee Services of Texas, Ann Finch voluntarily rallied a network of small local churches in Western Travis County to help furnish apartments for newly arriving Afghan refugees. (Sarah Asch and Sidney Josephs, Austin American-Statesman) 
• By the end of February, Oklahoma is expected to receive a total of 1,000 refugees, with dozens of Afghan refugees arriving to the state over the next week. For months, nonprofit CAIR Oklahoma has provided new arrivals with welcome kits and baskets, food, and other services. (Evan Onstot, KOCO 5 News) 
• Communities in Westchester, New York, including religious organizations, have launched the new nonprofit Ossining for Refugees, which will soon help resettle its first Afghan evacuee. (Martin Wilbur, The Examiner News) 

‘WAR FOR TALENT’ — The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a renewed global "war for talent over researchers, entrepreneurs and students," write David Matthews and Richard L. Hudson for Science Business. "There is increasing competition for talented individuals, and there’s no doubt it’s going to be with us for the foreseeable future," said Ian Walmsley, provost of Imperial College London. … "If you want to be in the game, smart people are the primary driver, generating new ideas and new opportunities." Matthews and Hudson point out that if U.S. Congress continues to be "deadlocked by its own political infighting," our immigration policies will not change, nor will our ability to garner new immigrant talent to stay ahead of the game. 

MAINE’S INSPIRATION — A new book features stories of immigrants to Maine from 18 different countries, reports Rob Caldwell of News Center Maine. The book, "Dear Maine: The Trials and Triumphs of Maine’s 21st Century Immigrants," is by Reza Jalali, executive director of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, and Morgan Rielly, a state representative, with photos by Lilit Danielyan. "Today, [immigrants] are small business owners, artists, activists, public servants, and students," the book authors write, as quoted in the story. "These Mainers help make our state and our country exceptional, give us hope, and provide ongoing examples of the promise of both Maine and America." For more on their book, watch the great accompanying interview.