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< Back OTTA United Receives “Partner of the Year Award” from YIMBY Democrats of San Diego Wednesday, August 23, 2023 Our Time to Act United MEDIA CONTACT: Mariya Grabovska, Press Intern ( mariya.grabovska@ottaunited.org ) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: San Diego, CA – August 23, 2023 – OTTA United, a formidable advocate for housing solutions and youth engagement, proudly announces its receipt of the "Partner of the Year Award" from the YIMBY Democrats of San Diego County. This prestigious award highlights OTTA United's exceptional dedication to the pro-housing movement and its unwavering commitment to amplifying youth voices in the community. The "Partner of the Year" award is a testament to OTTA United's unwavering dedication to promoting housing initiatives that benefit the entire San Diego community. OTTA United has actively engaged in critical conversations surrounding housing policy and has taken decisive steps to reach out to local universities, youth, and young professionals to foster greater community involvement. OTTA United takes immense pride in its nomination and its role as an advocate for a sustainable future, particularly for the youth of San Diego. Next Previous

< Back to Open Positions Policy Analyst Volunteer San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE Policy Analysts work to predict the effects of proposed or enacted legislation on youth. By analyzing the context and consequences of such legislation, they establish the stance our organization should take on specific and broad political matters. REQUIREMENTS Prior experience required. Preferred in the fields of political science, public policy, economics, nonprofit work, or related subjects/experiences. Undergraduate or beyond. Exceptions for exceptional candidates can be made. 6-8 hours, 1-2 meetings per 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

Kathleen (she/they) is a graphic design intern at OTTA and a Media major with a Design minor at UC San Diego. Her skills lie in graphic design, videography and editing, and marketing. She has experience in Campus Performance and Events at UC San Diego as a Lead Marketing and Graphic Designer. Additionally, she has experience in technology and troubleshooting at the UCSD ITS Service Desk. She has participated in art projects, including fan led projects for the game VALORANT, and has created design collateral for the Service Desk. Outside of working, Kathleen enjoys rock climbing and drawing. < Back Kathleen Hoang Graphic Design Intern Kathleen (she/they) is a graphic design intern at OTTA and a Media major with a Design minor at UC San Diego. Her skills lie in graphic design, videography and editing, and marketing. She has experience in Campus Performance and Events at UC San Diego as a Lead Marketing and Graphic Designer. Additionally, she has experience in technology and troubleshooting at the UCSD ITS Service Desk. She has participated in art projects, including fan led projects for the game VALORANT, and has created design collateral for the Service Desk. Outside of working, Kathleen enjoys rock climbing and drawing. kathleen.hoang@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Housing Justice Team Member (OLD INACTIVE) Volunteer Position On-Site (San Diego) APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before June 20th. ABOUT THE ROLE Contextual Note: Under Our Time To Act’s commitment to housing justice there are three teams: Eliminating Exclusionary Zoning, Enacting Social Housing, and Ending Youth Homelessness. Elimination of Exclusionary Zoning and Enacting Social Housing teams must utilize grassroots organizing to achieve their goals, and the staff on these teams will be primarily focused on building skills in organizing. Ending Youth Homelessness team members will primarily utilize skills in research and advocacy to achieve their goals, but may also be expected to learn a more diverse skill set to assist other teams. For more information about the responsibilities of each of the Housing Justice Teams, please see this chart. In your application, please rank the different projects in the final response box before your signature and submission. Through your application and interview process, you will be selected for one of these teams. Job Summary: Housing Justice Team Members will build and practice skills related to organizing, mobilizing, and advocating for housing justice at the grassroots level. This will be achieved with peer-to-peer learning and leadership opportunities. Housing Justice Team Members will participate in the general workload and strategizing of executing their housing project area. This work will involve educational and organizing campaigns, participating in and mobilizing for direct actions, and informing our consulting, advocacy, and research efforts. Job Details: Attend weekly working and check-in meetings with the Team Director and other Housing Justice Team Members on your project team. Attend monthly full-team meetings with all Housing Justice Team Members. Attend all additional meetings and events determined mandatory by your project team. Attend all relevant meetings and events for Our Time To Act as determined by your director and/or the Office of the Executive Director. Be prepared to research and become familiar with topics related to housing, transportation, and land-use policy. Be prepared to learn, grow, and practice skills of grassroots organizing. Strategize for and co-create educational materials, campaigns, direct actions, etc. Participate in planning, preparation, and execution of community events, tabling, and other direct actions. Practice successful active communication with colleagues and supervisors and timely completion of assigned tasks and expectations. Provide other assistance as needed. Bring your full self and your passion to your work, and actively contribute to the Housing Justice and Our Time To Act team with authentic leadership. Hours Per Week: Approximately 10 hours per week. These hours are mostly flexible except for required weekly meetings. During specific campaigns or running up to events, hours may increase and become less flexible. You are not expected to work late hours, and some weekends may be required, especially for some events. Pay Rate: No Pay Rate, Volunteer Position Benefits: This position is on a volunteer basis. There is no monetary compensation for this position at this time. Our Time To Act 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 Informal and formal training and mentorship Letters of recommendation Certified Volunteer Hours, if requested A tight-knit team and community of fellow change-makers Desired Start Date: As soon as possible. Priority is given to applicants who can start before July 1st, 2024. REQUIREMENTS Required Qualifications: Youth, 15 - 24 years old Existing knowledge of how to use Google Drive applications (Gmail, Docs, Forms, Calendar, Slides, Sheets, etc.). Google Drive applications are used frequently. Basic knowledge of Slack, the communications platform. Attention to detail and deadlines. Ability to communicate well with others, including fellow team members and the public. Ability to work successfully with a team. Ability to be flexible and adaptable to evolving situations. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to attend in-person events when necessary, weekly meetings may be attended via Zoom if necessary but most work may be required on-site. Preferred Qualifications: Please note that these are not required, but would be helpful for this role. Grassroots organizing experience. Research experience. Lobbying and advocacy experience. Existing policy knowledge related to housing, transportation, and land use. Experience with coalition building and spaces. Experience giving public comments. Experience with different writing styles (i.e. press releases, opinion pieces, policy memos, FAQ’s, etc.) Experience communicating with the press. Experience working with volunteers. Experience with giving detailed feedback on proposals. Lived experience with housing insecurity. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION WORK MODALITY & LOCATION The work modality of this role is in-person, and occasionally hybrid. Events, actions, and meetings will occur throughout the San Diego area. Our Time To Act is a youth-founded, youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to organize powerful youth for an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. Our Time To Act 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

Abbey currently works for Supervisor Nathan Fletcher at the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors as a Policy Associate for land use and environment as well as youth issues. She previously served for a year and a half as a Community Representative for Supervisor Fletcher. Her other experiences include working with the San Diego City Council as a Management Intern in District 7 and serving as the Associate Vice President of Local Affairs in student government at UC San Diego. Abbey had also previously served as the Advocacy Director for Our Time to Act United and was thrilled to continue working with this amazing team as a board member. She is passionate about creating positive change for our society, especially for youth. In her free time, she lives to do sewing projects and read. < Back Abbey Reuter Vice President Abbey currently works for Supervisor Nathan Fletcher at the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors as a Policy Associate for land use and environment as well as youth issues. She previously served for a year and a half as a Community Representative for Supervisor Fletcher. Her other experiences include working with the San Diego City Council as a Management Intern in District 7 and serving as the Associate Vice President of Local Affairs in student government at UC San Diego. Abbey had also previously served as the Advocacy Director for Our Time to Act United and was thrilled to continue working with this amazing team as a board member. She is passionate about creating positive change for our society, especially for youth. In her free time, she lives to do sewing projects and read. abbey.reuter@ourtimetoact.org

< Back OTTA United celebrates three new board directors, two youth and one youth ally Sunday, October 9, 2022 Our Time to Act United After confirmation at our October 9th Board Meeting, OTTA United is honored to welcome three new volunteers to our Board of Directors: Leana Cortez, Former OTTA United Advocacy Director & Clean4Kids Board Member Abbey Reuter , Former OTTA United Advocacy Director & current Community Representative for County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher Scott Warren , Co-founder and former CEO of Generation Citizen & current Youth Civic/Political Engagement and Leadership Specialist at USAID These individuals bring incredible lived experiences, unique perspectives, and the right mindset to our organization. Together, with their diversity and skills, we are better equipped to tackle our mission to "organize powerful youth for an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future." Next Previous

< Back Announcing our new name: Our Time To Act Monday, March 4, 2024 Our Time To Act On Sunday, March 3, 2024, we proudly announced our new name: Our Time To Act . Why the change? The name reflects an intentional strategic shift. For the past few years, we have focused on putting ourselves on the map, building a network, and fostering an incredible community of youth and youth allies. With these foundations in place, it’s our time to take the next step toward bold collective action . While unity is still important to us and our mission, it’s now time for our name to communicate our highest priority focus: organizing youth to take ambitious action on the housing crisis. Our new name also brings a breath of clarity—it’s shorter and easier to remember. Why the housing crisis? Housing is a human right. Having a home is fundamental to survival and is grounded in basic rights and social justice issues. Suburban sprawl and lack of affordable, available housing dramatically contribute to houselessness. Low-density, exclusionary housing and slow production of new units exacerbate poverty, enforce race- and class-based segregation, and further reliance on cars that contribute to unsustainable living. Youth are in a state of perpetual housing crisis, forced to answer the question: where are we going to live today, tomorrow, and in 30 years? Housing justice is how we will tackle building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all youth. How are we working toward housing justice? Thanks to our Director of Housing Justice, Nicole Lillie, and our dedicated Housing Justice Organizers Aarohan Hariharan, Arianna Alvarado, Diego Washington, and Masaki Mendoza, we’ve engaged hundreds of students and renters on housing justice, passing policies like Sustainable Development Areas in San Diego. Furthermore, we launched our Civic Youth Action Network (CYAN) . CYAN fosters youth-led grassroots organizing by providing a space for youth to co-create solutions to the housing crisis in our local communities. Since January, we’ve held seven meetings and engaged 30+ youth in community-building and organizing. What’s next? To announce and celebrate this new beginning, we invite you to re-engage with our cause. Signing up for our newsletter , becoming a member of CYAN , or making a donation are all great ways to join us for the ride. Now, more than ever, is our time to act. Next Previous

< Back Two young leaders, Nicole Lillie and Yvania Rubio, take new leadership roles on staff team Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Aidan Lin, Executive Director In the new year, we at Our Time to Act (OTTA) United are proud to announce two brand new positions in our staff team: Housing Projects Director and Director of Organizing . These positions represent the trailblazing work we are doing to advance housing solutions for youth and the broader San Diego community and the intentional focus on organizing youth that our mission calls for. Joining us in these new roles are renowned youth leaders and previous OTTA United staff members Nicole Lillie and Yvania Rubio, respectively. Nicole Lillie (she/her) served as the Project Director for OTTA United’s Youth Voter Engagement Project in the 2022 election. As a high school student, Ms. Lillie got her start in advocacy and voter engagement by organizing multiple voter registration drives at her high school. She also built up her school’s Rotary Interact Club as President for three years. She has demonstrated remarkable leadership capability both within and outside of OTTA United, engaging with thousands of youth and championing the cause of youth participation in politics. In her new role as Housing Projects Director, Ms. Lillie will work to organize and engage youth in local housing solutions, with a specific emphasis on Community Planning Groups and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in San Diego. Yvania Rubio (she/her/élla) worked alongside Ms. Lillie in OTTA United’s Youth Voter Engagement Project. She currently serves as a Youth Commissioner for the City of San Diego, and recently completed internships with Youth Will and the Live Well Youth Sector at the County of San Diego. During her time at OTTA United and in our community, Ms. Rubio demonstrated an incredible talent for building relationships with youth and policymakers, sharing her own lived experiences as a source of empowerment, and being a strong advocate for her own communities and those around her. As Director of Organizing, Ms. Rubio will drive bold change in local and regional communities that places more power in the hands of youth for an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. She will lead OTTA United’s organizing strategy, support new and capable youth leaders, and deepen our relationships with the broader communities we serve. We have immense confidence in these two young leaders, and we look forward to working with them in their new roles to expand OTTA United’s reach, impact, and advancement of our mission. Next Previous

< Back to Open Positions Policy Analyst Paid San Diego APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before March 1st, 2022. ABOUT THE ROLE As a member of the advocacy team, the policy analyst will be responsible for tracking San Diego municipal policy issues/debates. In 2022, the policy analyst will focus on affordable housing advocacy and the city budget. REQUIREMENTS Position Responsibilities: Track important bills/initiatives related to the San Diego City Council/Board of Supervisors Potential responsibilities include: Attending city council/board of supervisors meetings Reviewing meeting minutes and recordings of previous city council/board of supervisors meetings Reviewing and compiling list of related news articles and op-eds Quantitative/Qualitative analysis of potential impact on youth (aged 15-24) and the community at large Attend staff meetings Collaborate with the Director of Advocacy to write policy briefs/position papers Additional duties as assigned. Experience & Education: High school diploma required. Current undergraduate students are preferred. Previous experience in qualitative research is preferred. Hourly Commitment: Average 8 hours per week Compensation $17.30 per hour ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION As a 501(c)(3) youth empowerment nonprofit, OTTA United is dedicated to building youth power (aged 15-24) in areas predominantly occupied by adults to benefit the community as a whole. 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. APPLY

Join us in advocating for more housing opportunities through the City's Housing Action Package 2.0.

< Back to Open Positions Director of Operations & People Staff Director (Volunteer) San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before January 28th, 2024. ABOUT THE ROLE Reporting to the Associate Executive Director, the main responsibility of the Director of Operations and People is to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of OTTA United’s team, systems, and processes. JOB DESCRIPTION The Director of Operations and People drafts, revises, and enforces workflows and policies that guide the way OTTA United conducts its work. Key job responsibilities include: Drafting, revising, and enforcing workflows Analyzing and improving task efficiency Performing administrative tasks that maintain function Generally managing the internal, day-to-day work of the nonprofit Boosting team cohesion, collaboration, and morale Hire and onboard new members REQUIREMENTS DREAM ROLE This is the dream role for someone who is skilled at identifying and solving problems, understand systems work, and can lead the enforcement of processes in a kind, understanding, and empathetic way. Additionally, this role targets those who are looking to kick-start a career in organization management, human resources, project management, or business administration and strategy. Key skillsets may include: Problem-solving, Authoring and enforcing policy Evaluating and improving systems of work A focus on efficiency and efficacy Being an empathetic leader EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Previous operations-related experience is required, with preference given to individuals with experience in youth or youth-related issues. A high school diploma is preferred, although not required if a candidate has exemplary youth operational 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: Mentorship and hands-on experience on hiring and onboarding practices Gain knowledge on nonprofit operations and processes Tailored work 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 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

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