Two years after we founded CHAMP, we started to... well, look a lot better! You may have noticed that our publications suddenly had sexier designs and catchier stories, bright colors and sassy subject lines. And the makeover was more than just in appearance. When Lei Chou joined our staff as Director of Mobilization, he brought to the CHAMP effort not only his art skill and design sensibilities, but also one of the sharpest strategic minds in the AIDS movement. Lei came to us as a long-time AIDS activist whose work stretched from street actions to sophisticated financial analysis that cut through drug company BS to reveal the shady games in antiretroviral pricing. During his years at CHAMP, Lei built our national network, mentored our staff, led in-depth training for people with HIV and community activists around the country, developed compelling curricula on activist skills, and somehow found the time to maintain our website and keep our funders updated.

This month, Lei moved to Treatment Action Group (TAG) to serve as HIV and Hepatitis Project Coordinator. TAG and CHAMP have collaborated since we were founded - in fact, one of CHAMP's first projects was to help organize an international conference on community mobilization against TB and HIV on behalf of TAG.

In his parting note to some of our colleagues, Lei wrote:

"While I'm sad to be leaving CHAMP, I'm buoyed by the optimism, dedication, and purpose of CHAMP and its allies' important work. Fighting for sound HIV prevention policies and pushing for more and better prevention research has not been easy, especially under the current political climate and recent string of scientific set backs. Yet you have taken on these challenges with savvy, style, and courage. I will always be grateful for this opportunity to have worked with and learned from you all."

And regarding his new position, Lei concluded, "Same war, different battle." We're glad to be on the same side fighting alongside Lei, and we thank him for all of his hard work in and beyond the AIDS movement.

Other articles in this issue:

• Confronting Overlapping Epidemics: HIV and Mass Imprisonment
• Mujeres and CHAMP's Prevention Justice Partnership: Another Lesson Learned
• HIV Prevention Research Advocacy Takes Off
• Same War, Different Battle