Stephen Lewis is currently the codirector of AIDS-Free World and the Stephen Lewis Foundation, two nonprofits dedicated to supporting and empowering Africans with HIV/AIDS. Born in Canada, he began his career as a politician in Ontario, rising to hold the leadership position in the New Democratic Party in the 1970s. He then served as the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations. From 2001 to 2006, Lewis was the United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, and he has received international acclaim for his effectiveness in bringing this epidemic to the attention of world leaders.