In 1993, the AIDS Service Center NYC (now Alliance for Positive Change) opened its Lower East Side Drop-In Center in the same building as Performance Space 122. Among the locals impacted by HIV/AIDS—the population the organization supports—are many young LGBTQ people of color who are members of the Kiki scene.
 
Emerging out of the historical House/Ballroom community, the Kiki scene is a highly organized and creative youth-led organization. It centers around so-called houses, with complex kinship structures, that function as vital support systems—support systems that the government and biological families often fail to provide. The underground scene is best known for its lavish balls, where performers present their unique looks and movement styles, competing in different categories for their respective houses. Kiki Ball celebrates 25 years of neighborship between Alliance for Positive Change and Performance Space New York, and the shared believe that community and performative expression can save lives.