Kevin Winge, author of Never Give Up: Vignettes from Sub-Saharan Africa in the Age of AIDS, is an activist, writer and executive director of Open Arms of Minnesota, a nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From January 15, 2011 - returning to work on August 1, 2011. Kevin will be on sabbatical from his position at Open Arms and will be traveling in Africa where he will be researching and writing his second book tentatively titled Black and Blue in South Africa.

Kevin was executive director of Open Arms from 1997 until 2002 when he was named a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow. As part of his fellowship, Kevin received a master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and worked in South Africa establishing programs for people living with HIV/AIDS in townships outside of Cape Town. Upon completion of his fellowship in 2004, Kevin returned to his position at Open Arms.

Since attending the International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa in 2000, Kevin has traveled extensively in South Africa. His international work has also taken him to Ethiopia, Namibia, Rwanda and Uganda.

During his sabbatical, Kevin will be blogging at this site. He will also continue blogging for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Kevin will return to his work at Open Arms on August 1, 2011.