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< Back OTTA United helps pass Community Planning Group Reform at San Diego City Council Tuesday, September 13, 2022 Aidan Lin, Executive Director On Tuesday, September 13th, 2022, the San Diego City Council passed instrumental community planning group (CPG) reform at the urging of OTTA United, Circulate San Diego, and other groups. Youth and student leaders from OTTA United played an influential part in providing firsthand testimony of the exclusionary structures and behaviors of CPGs in support of the much-needed reform. The 100-second video below concisely summarizes the situation and OTTA's role in the process: As we celebrate the passage of these inclusive policies, OTTA looks forward to the future of diverse representation and participation in local community planning processes in San Diego. Next Previous

Anna Pierce is currently on the Strategy and Risk Committee of Our Time To Act. She was the Assistant Director of External Operations with Bayreach, Student Leader, and Woodwind Captain with her school’s marching band. In workspaces, she values collaboration and a shared desire for success. Outside of school and Our Time To Act, Anna loves to figure skate, horseback ride, and travel. She is also fluent in French and hopes to major in Sports Management. < Back Anna Pierce Strategy & Risk Chair Anna Pierce is currently on the Strategy and Risk Committee of Our Time To Act. She was the Assistant Director of External Operations with Bayreach, Student Leader, and Woodwind Captain with her school’s marching band. In workspaces, she values collaboration and a shared desire for success. Outside of school and Our Time To Act, Anna loves to figure skate, horseback ride, and travel. She is also fluent in French and hopes to major in Sports Management. anna.pierce@ourtimetoact.org

How can we empower youth? See our report, where we identify a trifecta model for youth empowerment as a basis for youth-centered nonprofits.

MIDWAY PROJECT BACKGROUND Midway District, neighboring Old Town San Diego, is home to many notable attractions in SD such as Kobey’s Swap Meet and Pechanga Arena. In 2020, voters approved an increase in the development. Recently, however, the city has recently blocked bids that prioritize housing over building a new stadium. We are advocating for housing to be the first priority in new development. TAKE ACTION GOALS ADVOCATE for housing to be the top priority in Midway development. CALL for the City Council to reject the Mayor's recommendation to cut two bidders out, and instead implement a clear process for analysis and selection. MORE RESOURCES "Politics Report: What San Diegans Are Worried About Now, " Voice of San Diego (April 2022) "Not only do housing and homelessness now rank as the biggest problem for nearly 60 percent of the city, according to this poll, but virtually every other concern has faded from view. No single issue gets more than five percent of people’s attention." "San Diego’s sports arena site is up for grabs. These are the 5 teams competing to remake the property, " San Diego Union-Tribune (January 2022) "What is the strongest bid for San Diego’s sports arena site? " San Diego Union-Tribune (February 2022) "City Staff Picks Preferred Sports Arena Bid, " Voice of San Diego (April 2022) "The staff recommendation shows how much Mayor Todd Gloria is prioritizing a new arena on the land, at least in the case of one of the bidders, over affordable housing.” "San Diego Has a Housing Crisis, Not an Arena Crisis, " Voice of San Diego (April 2022) "Public lands should be used for the greatest public good – which in San Diego means housing, housing, and more housing. City leaders have articulated the importance of housing but the real test will be their decision at Midway." "For the city to give priority to a state-of-the-art entertainment complex, intended to attract more concerts and minor-league sports teams, would be a gross example of misguided public planning. Without sufficient housing, San Diego can’t attract new jobs. Higher education can’t attract students."

Irene Wu (she/her/hers) is a senior at San Marcos High School and fascinated with the intersection of youth activism and social media. She is active in API youth activism as the SD API Youth Network Co-Chair and is excited to be furthering Our Time To Act’s goals for empowered and passionate youth. Outside of OTTA, Irene adores reading and art, and is always looking for new book/movie/podcast recommendations. < Back Irene Wu Social Media Coordinator Irene Wu (she/her/hers) is a senior at San Marcos High School and fascinated with the intersection of youth activism and social media. She is active in API youth activism as the SD API Youth Network Co-Chair and is excited to be furthering Our Time To Act’s goals for empowered and passionate youth. Outside of OTTA, Irene adores reading and art, and is always looking for new book/movie/podcast recommendations. irene.wu@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Advocate Academy Program Manager Volunteer South Bay Area APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE Program Managers for the Advocate Academy support the Advocate Academy. This role is tasked with further developing our academy's curriculum, marketing this opportunity to potential participants, securing speakers and guest teachers, and directly teaching classes to equip youth with the skills they need to become effective advocates. REQUIREMENTS No prior experience required. Demonstrates ability to teach educational material. High school student or beyond. 6-8 hours, 1-2 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

< Back to Open Positions Assistant Director of Advisory Services Volunteer South Bay Area APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Assistant Director of Advisory Services is in charge of the Advisory Services, a broad range of services designed to enhance the capabilities of youth leaders. They are responsible for managing workshop events with the Event Coordinators, as well as providing training and partners for the Consultants. REQUIREMENTS Prior relevant experience preferred. Demonstrates strong networking and project management skills. 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

< 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

Iris is a first year at University of Southern California that's looking to find an interdisciplinary major between the arts and stem. Aside from being an officer of several school clubs, she is also a Monopoly enthusiast and a very devoted spreadsheet user. Outside of school, Iris volunteers regularly at Stanford's Cantor Arts Center, is a seasoned graphic designer for several animal shelters and clinics, and works with several other nonprofit organizations. < Back Iris Leung President Iris is a first year at University of Southern California that's looking to find an interdisciplinary major between the arts and stem. Aside from being an officer of several school clubs, she is also a Monopoly enthusiast and a very devoted spreadsheet user. Outside of school, Iris volunteers regularly at Stanford's Cantor Arts Center, is a seasoned graphic designer for several animal shelters and clinics, and works with several other nonprofit organizations. iris.leung@ourtimetoact.org

< Back OTTA United holds multi-day, organization-wide retreat in San Diego Saturday, December 10, 2022 Benjamin Wang, Staff Our Time to Act (OTTA) United is all about organizing, community, and consensus-building. These values are embodied in the work that OTTA United does for our communities. Twice a year, OTTA United reaffirms its commitment to these principles by holding an organization-wide retreat. These retreats allow OTTA United staff and board to come together as an OTTA United family and strengthen our personal and professional relationships. On December 9th and 10th, 2022, OTTA United held its second retreat in California and its first in San Diego. OTTA United members flew into San Diego from as far away as New York to make the most of this staff bonding and professional development opportunity. OTTA United’s winter retreat struck a perfect balance between work and play, with visits to the Cabrillo National Monument and Liberty Station in between trainings led by OTTA United leaders. Workshops on topics such as Community Organizing, led by Director of Services Apurv Gupta, and Event Programming, led by Director of Communications Isaac Lara, allowed us to sharpen our skills in a welcoming space surrounded by the people that make OTTA United special. Let’s hear from our Director of Services, Apurv Gupta, about the retreat. Hey Apurv! It’s so nice to see you again. Could you introduce yourself and your role within OTTA United? What does your role entail? My name is Apurv Gupta and I’m the Director of Services here at OTTA United. My role usually involves designing and producing services for the organization; these would be internal or external programs that can empower youth directly. My work tends to be a mix of research, advocacy, event-planning, and managing logistics. On day 1 of the retreat, you facilitated a workshop on Community Organizing. Could you talk a little bit about your workshop? Of course! OTTA United recently decided to shift our organizational focus into Community Organizing, a practice that empowers youth through a development of their capacity. Prior to this shift, I did a lot of research in organizing, and worked with Aidan – our wonderful Executive Director – to plan out some potential programs and applications of the approach. Not everyone on the team, however, had as comprehensive of an understanding, and my workshop aimed to build upon that so everyone was in the loop. In the workshop, I talked about the 3 types of changemaking - lone wolf, mobilizing, and organizing - and how each was significant in their own way. The training also had a lot of activities that gave OTTA United members a lens into organizing and how that could look for the organization or for themselves. Overall, I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and I’m excited to see how OTTA United embraces organizing in the future! Last but not least, I wanted to ask about what this retreat meant to you. Do you have any memories or takeaways from the retreat that you can share with us? This retreat was, by far, my most memorable professional experience. The majority of our staff population lives in San Diego, and I live all the way up in the Bay Area; the physical distance often means I feel more disconnected from the team than I’d like. But the retreat brought me closer to every single person in OTTA United. I underestimated how fun we can be, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be myself around them. The list of memories is extremely long but I’ll go through a few, hopefully keeping things brief. I could talk about bonding over Korean Chicken Wings and Frank Sinatra with Tommy; spending 4 hours working with Ben and Ken on a speech while also guessing Ken’s middle name (we still don’t know); laughing with Isaac and Leana while sharing our mutual love for Keshi; playing Super Smash Ultimate with Donovan and Ken and getting absolutely demolished; flying out with Rachel, Andrew, and Ken in an absurd amount of giddiness; and having intimate, personal conversations with everyone on the team, especially Aidan. I’ve left out about a hundred significant moments, but I’m so grateful for OTTA United and for our team. I’ve never been in a community so diverse yet so powerful, and I’m always going to cherish that. In the end, the success of OTTA United’s winter retreat can be attributed to the perfect balance of work and play as well as the meticulous and careful planning of Rachel Choy, OTTA United’s Assistant Director of Communications. Alongside the efforts of Isaac Lara, OTTA United’s Director of Communications, Rachel’s diligent work and attention to detail made the event possible in the first place. This retreat was a wonderful way to renew our commitment to OTTA United’s values and principles while also fostering deeper connections among the OTTA United staff and board. We look forward to many more awesome retreats in the months and years ahead! Next Previous

Noah (he/him/his) is a recent graduate of the University of California, San Diego with a B.S. degree in Psychology in which he earned prior to joining Our Time To Act. He has been involved in the North Park Planning Committee and regularly attends their meetings. Growing up in a streetcar suburb he realized the importance of walkability and alternatives to driving but it wasn’t until moving to a car dependent area and back to the streetcar suburb where that importance was made obvious. In addition to being an advocate to traveling alternatives, Noah also believes in environmental sustainability as well as densifying housing in order to accommodate the growing population of San Diego and her surrounding areas.Noah has officially joined our time to act in 2024 and is looking forward to helping San Diego’s population have an environmentally sustainable future with further mixed use environments and more housing. < Back Noah Gonzalez Housing Justice Organizer Noah (he/him/his) is a recent graduate of the University of California, San Diego with a B.S. degree in Psychology in which he earned prior to joining Our Time To Act. He has been involved in the North Park Planning Committee and regularly attends their meetings. Growing up in a streetcar suburb he realized the importance of walkability and alternatives to driving but it wasn’t until moving to a car dependent area and back to the streetcar suburb where that importance was made obvious. In addition to being an advocate to traveling alternatives, Noah also believes in environmental sustainability as well as densifying housing in order to accommodate the growing population of San Diego and her surrounding areas.Noah has officially joined our time to act in 2024 and is looking forward to helping San Diego’s population have an environmentally sustainable future with further mixed use environments and more housing. noah.gonzalez@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Advisory Services Event Coordinator Volunteer South Bay Area and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE Event Coordinators for Advisory Services run informational workshops designed to enhance the organizational and leadership skills of youth, offering them new methods and ideas for their own groups and organizations. Specific work includes creating an event plan, calculating event expenses, communicating with event personnel, and facilitating event execution and wrap up. REQUIREMENTS No prior experience required. Demonstrates proficient forethought and planning skills. High school student or beyond. 6-8 hours, 1-2 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