in december 1998, he co-founded with charles rice-gonzález baad! - the bronx academy of arts and dance, a new performance and workshop space in the american bank note company building, a warehouse in the hunts point section of the bronx. in october 2013, the organization moved to westchester square into a gothic revivalist building on the campus of st. peter's episcopal church. "the new york times" has said that baad! is "a funky and welcoming performance space." in addition to the bessie award, avilés received an arts and letters award from his alma mater in 1995, a brio (bronx recognizes its own) award from the bronx council on the arts (bca) in 1999, a pride (puerto rican initiative to develop empowerment) award honoring outstanding contributions and services to the puerto rican, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (lgbt) communities, a 2004 new york foundation for the arts fellowship, in 2008 he received an award from nyc comptroller bill thompson and a nyc mayor's arts award, and 2015 received an honorary doctorate from bard college. in 2005, aatt was among 406 new york city arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the carnegie corporation, which was made possible through a donation by new york city mayor michael bloomberg.