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< Back Thank you to those who made it out to our API & Youth Voter Engagement Community Kickoff! Saturday, April 16, 2022 Sparky Mitra, Voter Engagement Project Manager Next Previous

Allison is a high school senior who enjoys learning about the world and people around her. She is an avid clarinet player with various honor band and youth orchestra experience, and she serves as a drum major for her school marching band. When not hurdling or throwing for her school track and field team, Allison can be found hanging out with friends, watching movies, solving different types of puzzles, or organizing things around the house. < Back Allison Park Treasurer Allison is a high school senior who enjoys learning about the world and people around her. She is an avid clarinet player with various honor band and youth orchestra experience, and she serves as a drum major for her school marching band. When not hurdling or throwing for her school track and field team, Allison can be found hanging out with friends, watching movies, solving different types of puzzles, or organizing things around the house. allison.park@ourtimetoact.org

Leana Cortez (she/her/hers) is a UC San Diego student studying Global Health and Sociocultural Anthropology. After beginning her activism journey in high school, Leana understands the need for youth power in the sociopolitical sphere. After spending years in the environmental advocacy realm, Leana joined Our Time To Act in October 2021 as Director of Advocacy. As Director, Leana has mobilized many youth for initiatives and projects relating to affordable housing, voting and civic engagement, and redistricting efforts. She has also worked alongside OTTA’s policy analyst, Aashika, to develop redistricting reform policy for the City of San Diego, which received high praise from city councilmembers. She now serves on OTTA's Board of Directors. Beyond her work in OTTA, Leana has aided in research relating to adolescent mental health with the Center for Global Mental Health, stem cell signaling with the Reya Lab at UCSD, and invasive plant species with a local nonprofit in San Diego. Leana hopes to pursue a PhD in Global Health and Medical Anthropology post-graduation. < Back Leana Cortez Board Director Leana Cortez (she/her/hers) is a UC San Diego student studying Global Health and Sociocultural Anthropology. After beginning her activism journey in high school, Leana understands the need for youth power in the sociopolitical sphere. After spending years in the environmental advocacy realm, Leana joined Our Time To Act in October 2021 as Director of Advocacy. As Director, Leana has mobilized many youth for initiatives and projects relating to affordable housing, voting and civic engagement, and redistricting efforts. She has also worked alongside OTTA’s policy analyst, Aashika, to develop redistricting reform policy for the City of San Diego, which received high praise from city councilmembers. She now serves on OTTA's Board of Directors. Beyond her work in OTTA, Leana has aided in research relating to adolescent mental health with the Center for Global Mental Health, stem cell signaling with the Reya Lab at UCSD, and invasive plant species with a local nonprofit in San Diego. Leana hopes to pursue a PhD in Global Health and Medical Anthropology post-graduation. leana.cortez@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Director of Finance & Budgeting Staff Director (Volunteer) San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before June 16th. ABOUT THE ROLE Reporting to the Associate Executive Director, the primary job of the Director of Finance & Budgeting is to safeguard OTTA United’s financial stability and maintain the nonprofit’s books with accounting best practices. JOB DESCRIPTION The Director of Finance & Budgeting leads in the preparation of OTTA United’s annual budget, monitors fund usage, and approves project budgets and fund requests. Key job responsibilities include: Leading accounting and budgeting for the nonprofit Monitoring the allocation and use of funds Reviewing and maintaining compliance with laws and financial practices Leading the creation of the Annual Budget and all amendments, in conjunction with Staff Executive Leadership and the Board of Directors Drafting and implementing financial policies REQUIREMENTS DREAM ROLE This is the dream role for someone who is looking to support a meaningful cause with strong knowledge of best accounting practices, how to manage money, and the ability to provide a strong check on the usage of funds. Key skillsets may include: Accounting and budgeting skills and best practices Monitoring funds Approving and processing purchases Financial legal compliance Takes initiative and is willing to stand firm in policy EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Previous accounting and budgeting experience is required. A high school diploma is preferred, although not required if a candidate has exemplary experience. WORK MODALITY & LOCATION The work modality of this role is either hybrid or remote. Work is welcome in person at OTTA United’s office is located in San Diego, California (3252 Holiday Court Ste 103, San Diego, CA 92037), but it is not required. 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. 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

Rachel Choy (she/her) is working towards a career in brand marketing. She joined Our Time To Act in April 2021 as the Graphic Designer and became the Assistant Director of Communications in July 2022. Throughout her time at Our Time To Act, she has seen the implications of and needs for visual communications to create impactful changes. Some of her work includes leading social media and website content projects, collaborating with departments for marketing campaigns, and rebranding the organization. Outside of Our Time To Act, Rachel is studying for a major in Marketing and a double minor in Graphic Design and Retail Studies at Santa Clara University (SCU). Rachel is also Co-Chair of the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Union at SCU. Here, she fosters community by providing spaces, resources, and events for API students. Furthermore, Rachel is currently a Marketing Intern for Noble Health where she researches social media strategies and designs promotional content revolving around mental health therapy. < Back Rachel Choy Associate Executive Director Rachel Choy (she/her) is working towards a career in brand marketing. She joined Our Time To Act in April 2021 as the Graphic Designer and became the Assistant Director of Communications in July 2022. Throughout her time at Our Time To Act, she has seen the implications of and needs for visual communications to create impactful changes. Some of her work includes leading social media and website content projects, collaborating with departments for marketing campaigns, and rebranding the organization. Outside of Our Time To Act, Rachel is studying for a major in Marketing and a double minor in Graphic Design and Retail Studies at Santa Clara University (SCU). Rachel is also Co-Chair of the Asian and Pacific Islander Student Union at SCU. Here, she fosters community by providing spaces, resources, and events for API students. Furthermore, Rachel is currently a Marketing Intern for Noble Health where she researches social media strategies and designs promotional content revolving around mental health therapy. rachel.choy@ourtimetoact.org

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Rhianen is majoring in Sociocultural Anthropology with a minor in Ethnic Studies at UCSD. Their current passions are queer and disability justice as well as being open about their journey with PTSD. Rhianen's two modes are productive working at a local cafe or playing on their Switch, curled up on their couch. They consider themselves to be the part-time cool uncle of Isaac's yorkie. < Back Rhianen Callahan Community Coordinator Rhianen is majoring in Sociocultural Anthropology with a minor in Ethnic Studies at UCSD. Their current passions are queer and disability justice as well as being open about their journey with PTSD. Rhianen's two modes are productive working at a local cafe or playing on their Switch, curled up on their couch. They consider themselves to be the part-time cool uncle of Isaac's yorkie. rhianen.callahan@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Manu Agni, OTTA Board Director, participates in Voice of San Diego's Politifest as a panelist Saturday, October 8, 2022 Aidan Lin, Executive Director On Saturday, October 8th, one of the largest local government forums in San Diego, the Voice of San Diego's Politifest , commenced at the University of San Diego. OTTA United was proud to be represented by Manu Agni, Board Director, in the Fast Bus! panel. The Fast Bus! report authored by Circulate San Diego describes relatively quick and low-cost initiatives to improve bus speed, frequency, and dwell time. Manu is known for his work in transit. As an Urban Studies Planning student, he has worked for transportation consultants, partaken in advocacy work, and led projects at UC San Diego to expand access to transit for students and youth. Manu contributed a valuable youth perspective—armed with extensive knowledge and firsthand experience—to the discussion. OTTA United's work and mission were well-represented by his voice. We look forward to relentlessly championing youth involvement in all spaces, including transit, and thank Circulate San Diego for the invitation to join the panel and Voice of San Diego for hosting the event. Next Previous

< Back to Open Positions Accountant Volunteer San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before January 30th, 2024. ABOUT THE ROLE THE ROLE As an accountant, you will play a key role in ensuring the financial health and compliance of OTTA United. We are looking for a detail-oriented individual who is a self-learner and eager to learn about financial procedures, policies, and systems. JOB DESCRIPTION Key responsibilities include: Process invoices, write checks, and handle inquiries for workshop commissions Reconcile bank statements Manage reimbursements Assist in preparing the financial reports including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements This is the dream job for someone who is looking to kick-start a career in accounting and finance. We accept applications from those at all levels of experience. We are looking for someone who: Has strong organizational and time management skills Has the ability to work both independently and as part of a team Has a desire to understand accounting principles and financial concepts Is passionate about our mission REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE A high school diploma is preferred, although not required if a candidate has exemplary accounting experience. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION WORK MODALITY & LOCATION The work modality of this role is either hybrid or remote. Work is welcome in person at OTTA United’s office, located in San Diego, California (3252 Holiday Court Ste 103, San Diego, CA 92037), but it is not required. PAY & BENEFITS This position is on a volunteer basis. There is no monetary 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 Hands-on experience with Quickbooks and resources to foster exploration Letters of recommendation Certified Volunteer Hours, if requested A tight-knit team and community of fellow change-makers 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 OP-ED: The San Diego redistricting process protected the status quo. We need change Monday, December 13, 2021 Aidan Lin, Executive Director For the past few months, students of UC San Diego have made a historic push to move council districts in the City of San Diego's 2020-21 redistricting process. They have shared their perspective, in actions ranging from digital submissions of maps to vocal public comments in hour-long meetings. Throughout the process as a student and leader myself, I've witnessed and experienced firsthand the disregard, apathy, and sometimes malice directed toward my peers for sharing their perspectives. For some, it emboldens them to speak up louder. But for others, it disincentivizes them from participating in the first place. Many groups of diverse individuals share this experience in the city. Often, the voices of wealthy, single-family homeowners prevail in systems designed to cater to their participation; not to mention the fact that many youths are BIPOC and from underrepresented communities. This is the status quo in San Diego, and it requires an enormous amount of momentum to overcome. As I highlight in my opinion piece for the Voice of San Diego , this came into play in very tangible ways: Instead of a new persons of color majority district consisting of Clairemont, Linda Vista, and Serra Mesa, the commission voted to maintain the status quo by giving the coastal region two districts. By splitting our campus, they diluted student voting power and reduced the likelihood of our needs being taken seriously. Their adopted map also lowered Asian American and Pacific Islander percentages in District 6 and Latino/a percentages in District 9, relative to the collaboration map they rejected. We must take action to dismantle the system that prevent real, important change from occurring. Three reform ideas that we proposed included: Detach the appointments from specific City Council seats. Many independent redistricting commissions do not tie commissioners to existing seats, including the county and state. Rather than ensuring geographic representation, this pushed commissioners to defend their personal districts as if they were elected politicians and resist any changes to the status quo. Change the Appointing Authority. Retired judges may sound like a good idea, but a system with selection bias toward older people and attorneys has generated major negative repercussions for communities of color. We need an appointment authority that is both independent and representative of the community and its values. Require representation on the commission. We will never achieve districts that reflect local communities unless the commissioners drawing them also reflect the community. New requirements should be added to ensure renters, students, and Black, indigenous and people of color are adequately represented on the commission itself. As we call for reform, we ask for your support. Join our newsletter to stay in the loop and reach out if you are inspired to get involved. voiceofsandiego.org The Redistricting Process Favored the Status Quo, Again. That Needs to Change. These commissioners simply do not reflect the diversity of San Diego, nor the experiences of most residents, and repeatedly proved themselves incapable of putting aside their own biases for the good of the city. Next Previous

Vedant Patel (he/him/his) is the Communications Chair of CYAN and currently a student studying Computer Science at the University of California, San Diego. He has been invested in US and global politics since the 2016 US Presidential election, and became particularly interested in issues surrounding housing, transit, and the environment during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21 after delving into the history of urban planning of his hometown of Los Angeles and the country and world more broadly. He has advocated for increased housing density, improved transit access and infrastructure, and greater adoption of mixed-use communities at University Community Plan Update Meetings and has helped plan and organize events for Our Time To Act (OTTA). After graduation, he hopes to continue his involvement in CYAN and OTTA and contribute to a brighter future for San Diego and California as a whole. Outside of learning more about housing, transit, urbanism, and environmentalism, Vedant is an international relations and history buff. Additionally, as a Computer Science major, he is always open to expand his knowledge and skills related to the field and its various subfields such as full stack development and artificial intelligence. In his spare time, he avidly follows Formula One and is an aspiring cinephile and telephile. < Back Vedant Patel CYAN Advisor Vedant Patel (he/him/his) is the Communications Chair of CYAN and currently a student studying Computer Science at the University of California, San Diego. He has been invested in US and global politics since the 2016 US Presidential election, and became particularly interested in issues surrounding housing, transit, and the environment during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21 after delving into the history of urban planning of his hometown of Los Angeles and the country and world more broadly. He has advocated for increased housing density, improved transit access and infrastructure, and greater adoption of mixed-use communities at University Community Plan Update Meetings and has helped plan and organize events for Our Time To Act (OTTA). After graduation, he hopes to continue his involvement in CYAN and OTTA and contribute to a brighter future for San Diego and California as a whole. Outside of learning more about housing, transit, urbanism, and environmentalism, Vedant is an international relations and history buff. Additionally, as a Computer Science major, he is always open to expand his knowledge and skills related to the field and its various subfields such as full stack development and artificial intelligence. In his spare time, he avidly follows Formula One and is an aspiring cinephile and telephile. vedant.patel@ourtimetoact.org

< Back Aidan Lin appointed by California Senate to new state-wide Youth Empowerment Commission Wednesday, January 18, 2023 Our Time to Act United On January 18th, the California Senate Rules Committee confirmed their appointment of Aidan Lin, Executive Director of Our Time to Act (OTTA) United, to the brand new state-wide Youth Empowerment Commission. “The California Youth Empowerment Commission is an exciting new opportunity to improve communication and meaningful collaboration between California’s youth and the state Legislature, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Governor,” summarized Toni Atkins, leader of the California State Senate, in a press release . Senator Atkins commended Mr. Lin for his work and experiences and said he will “no doubt be essential to the Commission during its formative years.” Our Time to Act United is extremely proud to hear of Mr. Lin’s involvement in the new commission. To date, he is the first California Youth Empowerment Commissioner in the state’s history. We commend the state and the commission’s advocates for uplifting the voice of young people in our government, and we look forward to supporting the group in the months and years to come. sd39.senate.ca.gov Aidan Lin Appointed to the California Youth Empowerment Commission SACRAMENTO &ndash; Today, the Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), appointed Aidan Lin to the California Youth Empowerment Commission. &ldqu Next Previous