How REACH LA’s Greg Wilson is rewriting the blueprint for queer youth survival amid shifting political and economic storms
BY MARK ARIEL | PHOTO BY ALEXANDER SCHUELLER
Despite what is trying to be enforced, we have actively and intentionally maintained a safe space for our communities to feel safe, welcomed, seen, heard and valued,” says Greg Wilson, the Chief Operating Officer of REACH LA.
In an interview with THE FIGHT, Wilson looked back at his two decades in the non-profit sector, tracing the dramatic shifts in what young Black and Brown LGBTQIA2S+ individuals in downtown Los Angeles need to survive and thrive today.
While HIV and STI infection rates remain high, Wilson notes that basic economic survival has become a defining crisis. “What has gotten worse over time is the ability for our communities to sustain and survive the economic challenges that we are currently facing,” he observes.
He has witnessed a severe spike in housing insecurities, substance use among youth, enhanced mental illness, and a lack of employment opportunities, all compounded by restrictive governmental changes to healthcare access and a painful cultural regression where youth feel increasingly pressured to subdue their identities.
To confront these challenges, REACH LA is actively pivoting its operations to ensure its spaces remain a resilient sanctuary. The organization has partnered with transitional living facilities to fund emergency housing for clients in crisis, while its supportive services department has ramped up comprehensive case management, harm reduction, and substance use treatment.
“We’re in this together and that’s why we must fight for one another, and fight this fight together.”
Recognizing the heavy psychological toll on the community, Wilson and his team expanded their mental health department well beyond standard one-on-one counseling. They introduced innovative, community-wide healing initiatives, such as the Zenfolk activation and the newly launched Zen Fest conference, which seamlessly integrate sound baths, yoga, journaling, and spiritual wellness into an accessible environment. “We found that the community responded well to this,” Wilson notes, explaining that these holistic events open doors to the other vital resources REACH LA offers, alongside newly re-established professional development and scriptwriting workshops.
Balancing this rigorous operational expansion with maintaining REACH LA’s identity as an organic, arts-based creative sanctuary is a deeply personal task for Wilson. As a creative writer working on his second book and a recognized Legend in the House and Ballroom community, he intimately understands the cultural necessity of creative expression.
Having progressed through the non-profit world from a client utilizing services, to a frontline worker, and now to an executive leading managers, his lived experience bridges institutional structure with street-level reality. “Having been at the different tiers of understanding in these areas, has allowed me to be open minded and understanding to how and why it is important for the staff to have the ability to adapt and tailor their approach,” he explains. He believes this blend of professionalism and creative freedom is what sets the organization apart, allowing them to address client needs in non-traditional ways.
This dual perspective is critical for overcoming modern operational barriers, particularly when political administrations strip funding and minimize health insurance options, causing some youth to fear retaliation for accessing services. Wilson explains that building true bridges in a fragmented city like Los Angeles requires utilizing grassroots values as a foundation while using relatable street-level interventions to understand daily survival.
By maximizing institutional funding and cross-community collaborations, REACH LA ensures its programming remains sustainable even when grants fluctuate. This infrastructure allows them to continue major cultural milestones independent of restrictive funding, including the annual Unique Ball—which introduces college students to Ballroom culture—and the upcoming national Ovahness Ball scheduled for December 12, 2026. “We’re in this together,” Wilson emphasizes, “and that’s why we must fight for one another, and fight this fight together.”
As a prominent, HIV-positive Black gay man in leadership, Wilson views his visibility as an essential tool to dismantle stigma and mentor the next generation. “I had to fight for my sanity, for resources, for self-esteem, for my pride, for my life,” he recalls of his early years navigating homelessness and his diagnosis. His approach to leadership relies on transparency and honest sharing to bridge the generational gap. Rather than forcing staff into rigid contractual boxes, he intentionally invites them to co-create programming. “My metamorphosis,” he reflected, “is emphasized through my ability to step back and allow people to embrace the gift of their own struggle and allow their caterpillar to break through their cocoon.”
When young queer people of color walk into REACH LA wanting to follow his path as a change agent, Wilson emphasizes that his footsteps are not meant to be followed. Instead, he starts by showing them “how beautiful their shoes are and how essential their footsteps are,” encouraging emerging advocates to reject societal limitations and cultivate an imaginative, solution-based mindset.
For more info on REACH LA’s services visit www.reachla.info.
