This week, a veteran’s museum in Kinston, North Carolina honored Isaac Pope, a 100-year-old World War II Army veteran, as part of its Black History Month Celebration. The Kinston community shared that Pope is an unsung hero who prevailed through discrimination and racism and now gives back to his city.

In September 2017, the Superintendent of the US Air Force Academy Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria stood before thousands of Air Force cadets and a delivered a message in response to a racist incident at the academy. His message was simple - If you can't treat someone with dignity and respect -- get out. This week, in a commentary on CNN.com, Silveria shared how diversity is a force multiplier. Silveria writes, “Diversity…is crucial, not because it is in vogue, but because it makes us better, stronger and more effective as a fighting force.”

This Monday, United Nations refugee chief Filippo Grandi urged the United States to raise its refugee quota. Grandi made the plea from Zaatari refugee camp, home to over 80,000 refugees. What was supposed to be a temporary shelter has now become Jordan's fourth largest city. Some 5.5 million Syrians have fled their homeland since the onset of the Syrian Civil War. As countries continue to close their doors, countless victims of terror remain displaced.

Dozens of refugee resettlement offices across the United States are preparing to close as the Trump Administration downsizes the refugee program. The U.S. government informed resettlement agencies that given the historically low refugee cap, offices expected to handle fewer than one hundred refugees in 2018 could no longer resettle new arrivals. Along with the closures, 11 planned new offices will not be opening this year. Robert Carey, former director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, criticized the move, arguing that this will undermine integration efforts. Carey explains, “Refugees can access services from the resettlement centers for up to five years after they first arrive, so the closures could potentially affect thousands of recent arrivals.”

Iraqis and Afghans who serve the U.S. mission often find themselves in danger because of their sacrifices. For those able to reach safety in the United States, access to education can be a huge challenge. A new bill in the Colorado legislature aims to grant in-state tuition to refugees and SIV recipients resettled in the Centennial state. On Thursday, VFAI leader and Army vet Travis Weiner spoke on Colorado Public Radio to discuss the bill. “I’m not going to rest until SIVs are afforded the same benefits as I am,” he said. “Our nation has a reputation on the line [based] on how we treat these individuals.”

CNN's Jake Tapper shares the story of twins who say it's their lifelong dream to serve in the U.S. military, but they could get deported before they get the chance. Because there hasn't been a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers, the twins and countless other military DACA-recipients continue to live with uncertainty as they await their fate. Following Defense Secretary James Mattiss’ comments last week, however it would appear as though these twins are safe to serve our country.

Refugee of the week: Hazim Avdal is a self-taught programmer, University of Chicago student, and 23-year-old Iraqi refugee. He grew up as a member of the Yazidi religious community in northern Iraq, but in 2014 he and his family fled their home for a refugee camp in Turkey, narrowly escaping ISIS. As part of a genocidal campaign to eradicate the Yazidi people, ISIS systematically executed men and sexually enslaved women and girls. Despite the unimaginable horrors the Yazidi people have endured, Avdal desires justice, not revenge. Avdal’s mother now lives in Germany, while his other relatives remain in Iraq. George and Amal Clooney are currently sponsoring Avdal, who plans to graduate in 2021 and in his words, “do something meaningful” to make a difference in Iraq.