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< Back Aidan Lin and OTTA United featured in State of the City Speech by SD Mayor Gloria Wednesday, January 11, 2023 Our Time to Act United On January 11th, 2023, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria held his first in-person and third ever State of the City Address. The Mayor declared the city to be ‘rising’ to meet prevalent challenges and that “our best days lie ahead.” His address focused on infrastructure, public safety, homelessness, and housing. It was during his segment on housing where Mayor Gloria spotlighted the work of Aidan Lin, Executive Director of Our Time to Act United, with youth and students in housing solutions. “Aidan is a 20-year-old student at UC San Diego. He currently has a 3.9 GPA, and while in high school, he founded a non-profit known as ‘ Our Time to Act United ,’ which works to empower young people.” The Mayor continued, “He’s already deeply involved in the civic life of our city – advocating for the Asian Pacific Islander community, shaping City Council Districts, and enthusiastically pushing for more housing and transit options.” Last year, OTTA United took on several advocacy projects — specifically focusing on the area surrounding UC San Diego — to promote increased housing stock, transit options, and building density to combat the worsening housing and climate crises. Students mobilized by OTTA United showed up in support of much-needed community planning group reform and density in the University Community Plan Update . Shortly after highlighting Mr. Lin, Mayor Gloria outlined the actions the city has taken to build more homes. This includes signing an executive order that directs all city staff to complete reviews and approvals of 100-percent affordable housing projects within 30 days, a process that currently takes up to six months. OTTA United looks forward to continuing its housing organizing and advocacy efforts in 2023 and greatly appreciates the acknowledgment of youth and youth leaders in the struggle for affordable housing. Next Previous

Henna is a fourth year Business Psychology student at the University of California San Diego. Before joining Our Time To Act, Henna dedicated her time to a senior home where she served as the event coordinator for our events. Henna planned and executed thei monthly visits to the local senior home where they would put on fun games and did arts and crafts. Henna's hobbies include reading and cooking and outside of OTTA, Henna also work in retail. < Back Henna Malikyar Director of Operations and People Henna is a fourth year Business Psychology student at the University of California San Diego. Before joining Our Time To Act, Henna dedicated her time to a senior home where she served as the event coordinator for our events. Henna planned and executed thei monthly visits to the local senior home where they would put on fun games and did arts and crafts. Henna's hobbies include reading and cooking and outside of OTTA, Henna also work in retail. henna.malikyar@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Director of Organizing Staff Director (Volunteer) San Diego, CA, USA APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before June 16th. ABOUT THE ROLE Reporting to the Executive Director, or the Senior Director of Programs if hired, the Director of Organizing is responsible for finishing the design and launching the Civic Youth Action Network (CYAN). In the future, the Director of Organizing may have a team of direct reports. JOB DESCRIPTION The Director of Organizing will launch and run CYAN, OTTA United’s flagship program and primary way of organizing youth. CYAN identifies, recruits, and equips youth organizers with the ability to change their communities — after youth act, they are uplifted into leadership opportunities at CYAN. Key job responsibilities include: Garnering support for CYAN from community nonprofits, funders, and youth Launching CYAN's first local/regional location in San Diego Spearheading program design (building upon the current framework) and implementation Selecting and leading a local/regional program team Working directly with CYAN members in trainings, organizing campaigns, and increasing membership Coordinating with the OTTA United team, including the Senior Director of Programs, Executive Director, and Board of Directors REQUIREMENTS DREAM ROLE This is the dream role for someone with a strong understanding of organizing, a passion for serving youth, and a commitment to building a successful program from scratch. Key skillsets may include: Community organizing Program design and leadership Ability to inspire, train, and empower youth sociopolitical awareness to achieve change and help others to do so Passion and commitment A “do-er” (strong implementation skills) EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Previous organizing experience is required, with preference given to individuals with experience organizing youth or for youth-related issues. A high school diploma is preferred, although not required if a candidate has exemplary youth organizing experience. WORK MODALITY & LOCATION OTTA United’s office is located in San Diego, California (3252 Holiday Court Ste 103, San Diego, CA 92037). CYAN will be launched in San Diego, so applicants must be in the San Diego region with the ability to travel around the City of San Diego and to the OTTA United office. The work modality is hybrid, with some required meetings at the OTTA United office. PAY & BENEFITS This position is on a volunteer basis. There is no compensation for this position at this time. OTTA United deeply values the potential for personal and career development and strives to uplift its team members to best position them for their bright futures. Non-monetary benefits include: Tailored work experience and growth to fit your desired career path Networking opportunities with community nonprofits, policymakers, elected officials, and companies Letters of recommendation Certified Volunteer Hours, if requested A tight-knit team and community of fellow change-makers EXPECTED HOURS & FLEXIBILITY In a Director position, expected hours fluctuate from 15-25 hours per week. Certain responsibilities, such as staff meetings, are fixed. Other obligations can be flexible around your schedule. Many staff members are also students, so our work environment is as flexible as possible. Approximately 80% of meetings will be conducted online, with some optional in-person attendance, and 20% will be conducted in person. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OTTA United is a youth-founded, youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to organize powerful youth for an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. OTTA United values authenticity and passion. We play the role of coalition builders and mentors within our communities, sharing knowledge, resources, credit, and impact. And as a justice-oriented, impact-driven, and people-centered organization, our perspective grounds us with who we serve and the work we do while advancing our mission. Applications are a two-way street. We make our values as an organization clear to you to make sure our team is the right fit—and we hope we are! Here are some things to keep in mind: Our team values flexibility and taking initiative over structure and top-down delegation. This philosophy is not a good fit for all, so we want to be clear upfront. If you thrive in dynamic, open environments, this is the place for you. We value meaningful impact and support. We seek to authentically serve both our audience and our team members alike. We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse group of people. These values are reflected in our hiring practices, decision-making, and programs. Our team and organization are growth-minded and development-focused. We always have room to improve, at all levels of our organization! Our organization promotes honesty, communication, and integrity. These values allow us to be an effective team. We praise creativity and ingenuity. Nothing is more exciting than thinking outside of the box or challenging the status quo. We prefer personability over professionalism, at least in internal settings. APPLY

< Back OTTA United and community partners host a local candidate forum at UC San Diego Monday, October 24, 2022 Our Time to Act United On Monday, October 24th, OTTA United was pleased to welcome candidates for City Council District 6 and candidates for Office 35 of the San Diego County Superior Court to the Triton's Choice Candidate Forum. Although City Council District 6 candidates Kent Lee and Tommy Hough and Office 35 of the San Diego County Superior Court candidates Rebecca Kanter and Mike Murphy were all invited and confirmed to attend the Triton's Choice Candidate Forum, Tommy Hough and Mike Murphy were unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. After all of OTTA United’s hard work and dedication, over 80 tritons were able to come and speak to local San Diego candidates, representing a resounding victory for student engagement in local politics. Leaders from the Youth Voter Engagement Project (YVEP), one of OTTA United’s project initiatives, worked tirelessly to bring this successful UC San Diego candidate forum to fruition. Nicole Lillie and Yvania Rubio, the Project Director and Assistant Project Director of YVEP, provided a space for dialogue between candidates and UC San Diego students so as to encourage mutual interaction and mitigate voter roll-off. According to William K. Hall of Bradley University, voter roll-off refers to “voters who cast ballots in the major partisan race such as president, governor, or U.S. Senator, but who do not cast their votes in [down-ballot elections such as] the judicial election.” Through the space that was provided, elected officials were able to speak about the importance of the city council and superior court races and why students should pay attention to these particular elections, with the intention of bridging any potential gaps in understanding about local candidates and forging confident young voters. Hosted at UC San Diego by OTTA United and our partner student organizations at UC San Diego, we called upon candidates to listen to students’ voices, and local San Diego candidates stepped up to the plate. As we celebrate the success of the Triton’s Choice candidate forum, OTTA will continue to champion student voices and listen to youth needs. Thank you to our collaborators for making this event possible, including: Associated Students of UC San Diego, Office of Local Affairs Graduate & Professional Student Association Seventh College Student Council Eleanor Roosevelt College Student Council Thurgood Marshall College Student Council Next Previous

< Back to Open Positions Director of Advocacy Volunteer San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Director of Advocacy is in charge of high-level plans, oversight, and execution of advocacy-related action, which is designed to further youth interests at all levels of our political system. They oversee the Assistant Director of Policy & Action and the Assistant Director of Research to guide Our Time to Act United's advocacy agenda and impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of youth across the state and nation. REQUIREMENTS Prior relevant experience required. Demonstrates strong goal management, team building, and interpersonal skills. Exemplifies strong leadership qualities. High school student or beyond. 10-12 hours, 3-4 meetings a week. Values cooperation, creativity, growth-mindset. Exhibits organization, diligence, and dedication. Passion for youth empowerment. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION While pursuing our mission of youth empowerment, Our Time to Act United understands the importance of fostering a safe, welcoming, and positive environment for all. As such, the actions we take align with our values as an organization and as individuals. We value meaningful impact. We always seek to genuinely support those that we serve and the people within our organization. We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse group of people. These values are reflected in our hiring practices, decision-making, and programs. Our team and organization is growth-minded and development-focused. We always have room to improve! Our organization promotes honesty, communication, and integrity. These values allow for us to be a cooperative, productive, and effective team. We praise creativity and ingenuity. Nothing is more exciting than thinking outside of the box or challenging the status quo. Applications are a two-way street. We make our values as an organization clear to you in order to make sure our team is the right fit—and we hope we are! Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions regarding our organization, values, workplace environment, or the application process. APPLY

Oliver has lived in Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles but considers the Bay Area home. He is a Stanford and Harvard trained clinical psychologist and has returned to Stanford University to serve as Operations Director at Counseling and Psychological Services, teach courses in Asian American Studies, supervise the next generation of psychologists, and provide outreach workshops and trainings. Oliver is humbled to serve on the Board of Our Time To Act and truly inspired to see the youth make such a meaningful impact in their local communities. < Back Oliver Lin Board Director Oliver has lived in Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles but considers the Bay Area home. He is a Stanford and Harvard trained clinical psychologist and has returned to Stanford University to serve as Operations Director at Counseling and Psychological Services, teach courses in Asian American Studies, supervise the next generation of psychologists, and provide outreach workshops and trainings. Oliver is humbled to serve on the Board of Our Time To Act and truly inspired to see the youth make such a meaningful impact in their local communities. oliver.lin@ourtimetoact.org

Marina grew up in south central Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Stanford University (B.A.,B.S.), University of CO (M.D) and USC (residency). She currently works as an Internist at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Her hobbies include traveling, carpentry, gardening, hiking and reading. < Back Marina Tostado Board Director Marina grew up in south central Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Stanford University (B.A.,B.S.), University of CO (M.D) and USC (residency). She currently works as an Internist at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Her hobbies include traveling, carpentry, gardening, hiking and reading. marina.tostado@ourtimetoact.org

Holly (she/they) is a dedicated Vietnamese-American educator, project manager, and organizer born and raised in Eastside San Jose. Currently, Holly is Chief of Staff at Sustainable & Just Future, expanding solution-based environmental curriculum around the United States. Their work focuses on intersectional environmental justice, youth empowerment, and international climate policy. Their unique background in the legal industry, non-profit sector, creative storytelling, and climate education have strengthened their dedication to serving communities disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. Holly believes it’s imperative that movements that center human rights and dignity must work together to create a more equitable and harmonious future. < Back Holly Harwood Board Member Holly (she/they) is a dedicated Vietnamese-American educator, project manager, and organizer born and raised in Eastside San Jose. Currently, Holly is Chief of Staff at Sustainable & Just Future, expanding solution-based environmental curriculum around the United States. Their work focuses on intersectional environmental justice, youth empowerment, and international climate policy. Their unique background in the legal industry, non-profit sector, creative storytelling, and climate education have strengthened their dedication to serving communities disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. Holly believes it’s imperative that movements that center human rights and dignity must work together to create a more equitable and harmonious future. holly.harwood@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Announcing a new chapter of leadership at Our Time To Act! Wednesday, July 17, 2024 Our Time To Act As a youth-led nonprofit, Our Time To Act grows as its people grow. We’ve accomplished more than we could have imagined since starting in 2018. We have met and organized thousands of youth, shaped policies and solutions, raised over $300,000, and been honored with recognition from our community. Now it’s time for even more powerful, youth-driven change. We are proud to announce that Our Time To Act has hired its first full-time employee and new Executive Director, Nicole Lillie ! In 2022, Nicole played a pivotal role in engaging thousands of youth to vote. She then served as Director of Housing Justice and worked at the forefront of our exponential growth in housing organizing. Nicole has been recognized by our organization with the 2022 Passionate Leader Award and 2023 Staff of the Year. She has the full confidence of our staff and board teams as we forge forward in this exciting chapter of service and impact. As a co-founder, Executive Director, and trailblazer, we are grateful for Aidan Lin-Tostado's thousands of hours of service to this cause. We are proud of Aidan as he embarks on a new journey working full-time with the international nonprofit, Nonviolent Peaceforce. We are also grateful to have his continued support as OTTA’s new President of the Board of Directors. He looks forward to supporting Nicole’s capable leadership. From Nicole Lillie: It is an honor to re-introduce myself to you as Our Time To Act’s new Executive Director and first full-time employee. When I first joined OTTA two years ago, I was hired as the Logistics Coordinator of the Youth Voter Engagement Project. I have long been known to tell anyone who will listen about the importance of civic engagement, especially in our local communities. It was OTTA that saw my passion, uplifted me to the role of Project Director, and invited me to find belonging in San Diego’s change-making community. I learned quickly that the issues that most drove my peers to the polls were their concerns around housing and transportation. These issues are key to our ability to survive and thrive in this place we call home. When I became Director of Housing Justice, I began a journey of engagement and learning that will never be complete. Housing justice intersects with every social justice movement we seek to progress, and, without housing solutions, we cannot forge a better future. As we enter into this new chapter at OTTA, our team will continue to organize powerful youth to achieve an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future in housing. We will continue to shape our future through collaborative and intergenerational action. The two years I have served Our Time To Act have allowed me to find, claim, and grow my power. I have learned to wield this power collectively to create the future I have always dreamed of. That future is not far away; it is Our Time To Act. I hope you will continue to join us. From Aidan Lin-Tostado: I was 15 when I co-founded OTTA. I’ve grown up alongside this organization for nearly six years, and I am so proud of what we have become. I had a recent conversation with Nicole reminiscing on our high school days. We shared stories about how we craved spaces and peers who cared about change-making in our community. We are so lucky to have such a wide range of ages and life experiences on the team at OTTA. By interacting with our high school-aged staff, I realized that OTTA has grown into exactly what I yearned for in high school. In high school, I wanted a physical space where our team could meet, plan, and make memories. Today, the OTTA office is filled with signs from our protests, pictures from our meetups, and a whiteboard where countless ideas were born. Today, we have youth leaders who are supported by you: an incredible network of community organizations and activists and donors. You are some of the fiercest advocates for our youth-led cause. Thank you for your true allyship. I promise we will work hard to earn your ongoing support. And we have visionary and trailblazing youth, like Nicole, who are eager to step up and organize for a better future. I have every confidence in Nicole’s ability to excel in the difficult role of Executive Director. A co-founder’s step back from day-to-day operations is always a challenging, important, and rewarding step to the organization’s continued success. I am so happy that we have reached this point so soon because I know it is not about me. It is about our mission. As we step into the next chapter, I will continue to support OTTA, its people, and its work. I believe that together we will transform San Diego and the world. My friends know that I carry a special card with me wherever I go. It lives in my computer sleeve. Whenever I pull out my computer to work, my hands brush against its pages. This card was given to me after our first gala and it is filled with heartfelt messages from each of our team members. It holds such personal significance because it is a reminder of the close friendships that OTTA has brought into my life. I truly believe these relationships are the key to our deep impact. As I transition from Executive Director to my first full-time job at Nonviolent Peaceforce, I will continue to carry this card in my computer sleeve and my heart. To the past, present, and future team members of OTTA, thank you for trusting me to build something together. You will always have a special place in my life story, and I hope I’ve made you proud. Next Previous

Isaac Lara holds a Bachelors of Science in Clinical Psychology and Global Health, and is currently a graduate student studying Global Health at the University of California, San Diego. He officially joined Our Time To Act in December 2021 as the Assistant Director of Outreach. In the past, Isaac received the Excellence in Promoting Mental Health and Distinguished Senior Service Awards, along with recognition from various organizations for his dedication and service. Isaac enjoys going to music festivals, trying new food and boba spots, reading, and spending time with his yorkie in his free time. < Back Isaac Lara Director of Communications Isaac Lara holds a Bachelors of Science in Clinical Psychology and Global Health, and is currently a graduate student studying Global Health at the University of California, San Diego. He officially joined Our Time To Act in December 2021 as the Assistant Director of Outreach. In the past, Isaac received the Excellence in Promoting Mental Health and Distinguished Senior Service Awards, along with recognition from various organizations for his dedication and service. Isaac enjoys going to music festivals, trying new food and boba spots, reading, and spending time with his yorkie in his free time. isaac.lara@ourtimetoact.org

Isaac Suarez (they/them) is pursuing a Communications Major at Grossmont College. Before joining Our Time To Act, Isaac was a Youth Leader with Live Well San Diego. They hosted and organized a Youth-Led Town Hall on mental health/substance misuse in collaboration with SAY San Diego and Project A.W.A.R.E. They joined OTTA United in July of 2023 as our Marketing Intern. Working with powerful youth alike, Isaac is dedicated to being a coalition builder for youth by creating inclusive spaces for youth to engage, collaborate and unite. < Back Isaac Suarez Marketing & Event Specialist Isaac Suarez (they/them) is pursuing a Communications Major at Grossmont College. Before joining Our Time To Act, Isaac was a Youth Leader with Live Well San Diego. They hosted and organized a Youth-Led Town Hall on mental health/substance misuse in collaboration with SAY San Diego and Project A.W.A.R.E. They joined OTTA United in July of 2023 as our Marketing Intern. Working with powerful youth alike, Isaac is dedicated to being a coalition builder for youth by creating inclusive spaces for youth to engage, collaborate and unite. isaac.suarez@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Assistant Direct of the Advocate Academy Volunteer South Bay Area APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Assistant Director of the Advocate Academy heads the Advocate Academy program, created to inspire youth advocacy. They aid youth in finding their voice and influence within politics, as well as creating a network through the Advocate Academy to represent the best interests of youth. REQUIREMENTS Prior relevant experience preferred. Demonstrates ability to develop a curriculum and guide the development of a target audience. Exemplifies strong leadership qualities. High school student or beyond. 8-10 hours, 2-3 meetings a week. Our scheduling is highly flexible. Values cooperation, creativity, growth-mindset. Exhibits organization, diligence, and dedication. Passion for youth empowerment. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION While pursuing our mission of youth empowerment, Our Time to Act United understands the importance of fostering a safe, welcoming, and positive environment for all. As such, the actions we take align with our values as an organization and as individuals. We value meaningful impact. We always seek to genuinely support those that we serve and the people within our organization. We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse group of people. These values are reflected in our hiring practices, decision-making, and programs. Our team and organization is growth-minded and development-focused. We always have room to improve! Our organization promotes honesty, communication, and integrity. These values allow for us to be a cooperative, productive, and effective team. We praise creativity and ingenuity. Nothing is more exciting than thinking outside of the box or challenging the status quo. Applications are a two-way street. We make our values as an organization clear to you in order to make sure our team is the right fit—and we hope we are! Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions regarding our organization, values, workplace environment, or the application process. APPLY