Ovahness Weekend is a collaboration between Los Angeles based House and Ballroom leaders, producers and community based organizations. The weekend is powered by the work of REACH LA. 

Ovahness Leadership Circle was first launched in 2005, under the leadership of Martha Chono-Helsley, Greg Wilson and Sean Milan Garcon. Over its twenty year history, REACH LA has been able to amplify the voice and platform of Ballroom in Los Angeles and beyond with holistic programming, support services and leadership development.

Ovahness Ball was first produced in 2006, is the most widely known and hallmark event produced by REACH LA and the Ovahness Leadership Circle.

REACH LA was founded in 1992, when three women artists and one community organizer created a program in response to the lack of HIV/AIDS prevention education for youth of color. They worked with teenage youth to develop educational programming that was targeted to combat the rise in HIV infection rates. The organization's current program includes HIV prevention education, HIV testing, linkage to care, and mental health support services for HIV positive and high-risk negative youth and young adults. In addition to health initiatives, RLA hosts a variety of creative arts programming to create space for local community artists through visual and performance mediums.