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ELIMINATING EXCLUSIONARY ZONING OUR GOAL We will eliminate exclusionary zoning and segregation in San Diego by passing intentional, community-led policies that will advance inclusive, equitable, and sustainable housing practices in the city. We will organize a coalition of value-aligned organizations and individuals who advocate for and shape policies that will dismantle historically segregationist zoning policies in the city of San Diego. Eliminating segregation will require unraveling the fundamentally unjust and exclusionary practices built into our housing policies. We must take ownership over the reshaping of our future. OUR PLAN We will begin working towards our goal by eliminating minimum lot sizes in single-unit residential zoned areas across the city. Minimum lot sizes were created to exclude residents by driving up housing prices through land cost, and it still accomplishes this segregationist goal today. This policy also contributes to environmentally damaging sprawl and growing burden on city resources. The impacts of this policy lead to consequences that cause disproportionate harm to non-white, under resourced, and historically marginalized communities. We want to see community-informed policy to eliminate minimum lot size and related development restrictions like minimum lot dimensions and maximum floor area ratios. OUR TIME TO ACT We must act now to eliminate minimum lot size and reshape single-unit residential zones. Single-unit residential zoning was created to preserve and continue segregation, and still makes up 81% of our residentially zoned land in San Diego. Eliminating minimum lot size in these zones is an essential first step to reduce the harms these policies were implemented to create. It will finally allow for the creation of denser, more diverse for-sale housing in our city. While new homes may still be expensive, a recent study found the policy has the potential to reduce average new-sale townhome prices by up to 40% . Newer, more attainable housing also serves to reduce the cost-pressure of older homes, making them more affordable for first-time homebuyers. In the face of major budget deficits, the reports also found it could significantly increase property tax revenue needed to support our city's growing needs. HOUSING SEGREGATION A TIMELINE First recorded racial covenant 1843 1910 First racial-zoning ordinance First single-unit only residential zoning ordinance 1916 1917 Buchanan v. Warley rules racial-zoning unconstitutional San Diego adopts single-unit only residential zoning ordinance 1923 1926 Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. rules single-unit only zoning constitutional Corrigan v. Buckley upheld racial covenants 1926 1934 Federal Housing Administration adopts red-lined maps Second Great Migration of Black Americans begins 1940 1948 Shelley v. Kramer rules racial covenants unconstitutional Fair Housing Act passes making racially explicit forms of housing discrimination illegal 1968 1970 From 1940 to 1970 the percentage of municipalities with minimum lot size restrictions grows from 20% to 79% 94% of municipalities have minimum lot size restrictions 2019 2019 Berkeley researchers find 81% of municipalities are more segregated in 2019 than they were in 1990 San Diego will eliminate minimum lot size restrictions 2026 Get Involved Canvassing Actions Share the Knowledge Join Us. Eliminating minimum lot size is only a first step, and it is long overdue. San Diego must act swiftly and intentionally to eliminate policies preserving severe racial and class segregation in our city. We are fighting century old exclusionary policies, and we can't do it alone. We need you to join us in the fight to eliminate segregation. Join the Newsletter Canvass San Diego We are canvassing all nine council districts of the City of San Diego. Through this canvassing we will administer a survey to identify the perspectives and considerations of San Diego residents regarding their housing, neighborhoods, and the future of the city. Consider filling out the interest form to join us for a canvassing shift, or meet with us to learn how you can canvass your own neighborhood! 1/11 Interest Form Take Action! Along with canvassing you can take action by joining us at one of our upcoming meetings or events! Events Interest Form 1/6 Knowledge is power! Housing policy is incredibly complicated, but it doesn't need to be. Its complexity has long served to leave the most impacted stakeholders out of the conversation, but that ends now. Wealthy homeowners have the funds and resources to hire lawyers, complicate and block housing, and play victim. We have facts and a drive for justice. By organizing our community for justice we build people power. By learning the facts and sharing the truth of our past and present far and wide, we build the power of knowledge. Use the links to share this information in PDF form with your friends, family, and neighbors. We won't let convoluted policy hide the racism and classism of our exclusionary zoning code anymore. Minimum Lot Size Fact Sheet History Fact Sheet

If you're interested in our upcoming events, you've found the right place. Check out our program events, services, and socials here! EVENTS Upcoming Events Event Highlights Past Events No events at the moment Upcoming Events Event Highlights Below are three events showcasing the different sectors of work we do. None of it would be possible without our hardworking team and volunteers. TRITON'S CHOICE DEBATE This debate provided an opportunity for students to practice voting on social issues that impact them. READ MORE AAPI POSTCARD CAMPAIGN Last November, student volunteers from Rancho Bernardo High School Asian Heritage Club and the Bishop's School East Asian Student Association wrote over 500 postcards to engage Asian American Pacific Islander voters in the 2022 election cycle for our postcard campaign. SUPPORT US PRO-HOUSING COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION We held a pro-housing community listening sessions where we discussed and brainstormed solutions to the growing issue of housing in San Diego. READ MORE COFFEE CHAT Our Coffee Chat event is a token of appreciation to the members who support us from the back. SAN DIEGO PRIDE FESTIVAL In 2022, we had the honor to table at the San Diego Pride Festival and to march in the parade. Event Highligts Past Events Join us for our Third Annual Gala! Sun, Feb 23 San Diego More info Details Youth Changemakers Summit Sat, Sep 28 San Diego City College More info Details San Diego Pride Festival Sat, Jul 20 San Diego More info Details CYAN June Meeting: The Nuances of College Applications / Inequities of the Educational System Sat, Jun 29 San Diego More info Details Spring Coffee Chat Affogato Edition Sun, May 19 San Diego More info Details May CYAN Event Sun, May 19 San Diego More info Details April CYAN Meeting Sun, Apr 21 San Diego More info Details Housing Talk Sun, Apr 07 San Diego Central Library Courtyard More info Details Winter Coffee Chat Sun, Mar 03 San Diego More info Details CYAN House Party Sat, Feb 24 San Diego More info Details CYAN Kick-off Sat, Jan 20 Water Front Park (at the main fountain) More info Details You OTTA Re-Member Us Sat, Aug 19 Kate Sessions Park More info Details Coffee Chat w/ OTTA United Thu, Jun 22 "The Club" at Regents La Jolla More info Details Say YES To Housing For Our Future Sat, May 06 Doyle Community Park More info Details Virtual Info Session: Housing Organizing Efforts Fri, Apr 07 Virtual Event More info Details March Against Gun Violence Tue, Mar 14 Hall of Justice More info Details Pro-Housing Rally in University City Sat, Mar 11 Nobel Trolley Stop Platform More info Details Sign-Making for Pro-Housing Rally Fri, Mar 10 Silent Tree at UCSD (Near Geisel) More info Details Load More Past Events

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< Back to Open Positions Marketing & Media Specialist Paid San Diego APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before March 31st, 2022. ABOUT THE ROLE The Marketing & Media Specialist will assist the Outreach Team in developing OTTA United’s outreach and marketing campaigns, specifically in developing promotional material and digital assets. The ideal candidate is familiar with social media and corresponding trends; provides an exciting and creative approach to promoting OTTA United’s work; and has relevant experience in media and content creation (e.g. video, photography, digital media, etc.) REQUIREMENTS Position Responsibilities: Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Outreach and Graphic Designer & Marketing Strategist to curate marketing and outreach campaigns. Create visual content for various social media platforms, including, but not limited to, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Modality of content may vary across multiple disciplines (e.g. photo-editing, videography, video editing, audio editing, graphic design, etc.) Research ongoing trends in social media (e.g. trending content, keywords, hashtags, etc.) to develop relevant content. Assist in creating and managing content for the website. Attend staff meetings. Additional duties as assigned. Experience & Education: Current high school or undergraduate students preferred. Although not required, experience in the following is preferred: Photo editing software (e.g. Photoshop, Lightroom) Video editing software (e.g. iMovie, Adobe Premiere) Social media content creation Trend and data analysis Hourly Commitment: Average 8-12 Hours/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

Born and raised in Orange County, Benjamin Wang (he/him/his) is a proud Taiwanese-American and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Ben studies Political Science and Education Studies at the University of California, San Diego. A champion for education equity, Ben is a Supplemental Instruction Leader for the UC San Diego Academic Achievement Hub. In addition, Ben served as Recruitment Manager for STEMup4Youth, a nonprofit organization serving over 50000 students dedicated to bringing interactive science activities to underserved communities. Ben joined Our Time To Act in August of 2022 as a Voter Engagement Researcher, and is committed to increasing voter engagement for historically disenfranchised groups as well as speaking out for youth and student affairs. Ben is currently involved in an Our Time To Act initiative to study voter disengagement and apathy. Outside of his work, Ben is a distinguished violinist and pianist, a frequent gym-goer, an avid gamer, and a nationally recognized Naval JROTC cadet officer. In his free time, Ben enjoys volunteering at his local food bank and is a volunteer English tutor for non-native speakers. < Back Benjamin Wang AVEP Researcher Born and raised in Orange County, Benjamin Wang (he/him/his) is a proud Taiwanese-American and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Ben studies Political Science and Education Studies at the University of California, San Diego. A champion for education equity, Ben is a Supplemental Instruction Leader for the UC San Diego Academic Achievement Hub. In addition, Ben served as Recruitment Manager for STEMup4Youth, a nonprofit organization serving over 50000 students dedicated to bringing interactive science activities to underserved communities. Ben joined Our Time To Act in August of 2022 as a Voter Engagement Researcher, and is committed to increasing voter engagement for historically disenfranchised groups as well as speaking out for youth and student affairs. Ben is currently involved in an Our Time To Act initiative to study voter disengagement and apathy. Outside of his work, Ben is a distinguished violinist and pianist, a frequent gym-goer, an avid gamer, and a nationally recognized Naval JROTC cadet officer. In his free time, Ben enjoys volunteering at his local food bank and is a volunteer English tutor for non-native speakers. benjamin.wang@ourtimetoact.org

Mehran is a master of Finance graduate from UCR. Currently, enrolled in Accounting program at UC Berkeley to obtain his CPA. Mehran has worked in different companies for the past eight years had has gain substantial amount of knowledge and experience in rolls such as office Administrative and Loan office assistant. He is very keen about accounting and as an accountant is very excited about join the Our Time To Act. He sees great potential in the organization and looks forward to growing his skills and accounting knowledge. < Back Mehran Piroozmand Accountant Mehran is a master of Finance graduate from UCR. Currently, enrolled in Accounting program at UC Berkeley to obtain his CPA. Mehran has worked in different companies for the past eight years had has gain substantial amount of knowledge and experience in rolls such as office Administrative and Loan office assistant. He is very keen about accounting and as an accountant is very excited about join the Our Time To Act. He sees great potential in the organization and looks forward to growing his skills and accounting knowledge. mehran.piroozmand@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Executive Assistant Volunteer San Diego, South Bay Area, and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Executive Assistant supports the Executive Director and Associate Executive Director in administrative tasks to keep Our Time to Act United running smoothly. This includes internal and external communication, meeting management, presentation preparation, meeting minutes, and more. REQUIREMENTS No prior experience required. 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 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

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 to Open Positions API and Youth Canvasser Paid San Diego, CA, USA APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before March 31st, 2022. ABOUT THE ROLE Despite making up 40% of the voting age population in North University City, only a fraction of API (Asian Pacific Islander) residents vote in both national and local elections. The same is true for youth residents. There are over 9,200 residents between the ages of 20 and 24 living in the area; only a third are registered/eligible to vote in local elections. Get-out-the-vote (GOTV) canvassers will engage API and youth voters living in North University City to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. REQUIREMENTS Position Responsibilities: Door-to-door canvas in North University City/UC San Diego campus Voter registration (April - May) GOTV primary election (May - June) GOTV general election (September - November) Coordinate with Assistant Director of Outreach in planning community outreach events Collaborate with Associated Students of UC San Diego to engage student voters Additional duties as assigned. Experience & Education: Current UC San Diego undergraduate students preferred. University City residents preferred. Hourly Commitment: 7 hours per week minimum Compensation $15 per hour + $5 per voter registered (no cap) ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION 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. APPLY

Scott Warren is an experienced practitioner and scholar in youth political engagement, and the new Youth Civic/Political Engagement and Leadership Specialist working at DDI in the ID Hub. He comes to USAID from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, where he started Democracy Moves, an international network of youth activists, organizations, and scholars pushing for democratic change in their own communities. As part of this work, he was the primary author of Walking the Walk, a report that details how young people are frustrated with traditional institutional politics, but engaging with democracy in new, creative ways. < Back Scott Warren Board Director Scott Warren is an experienced practitioner and scholar in youth political engagement, and the new Youth Civic/Political Engagement and Leadership Specialist working at DDI in the ID Hub. He comes to USAID from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, where he started Democracy Moves, an international network of youth activists, organizations, and scholars pushing for democratic change in their own communities. As part of this work, he was the primary author of Walking the Walk, a report that details how young people are frustrated with traditional institutional politics, but engaging with democracy in new, creative ways. scott.warren@ourtimetoact.org

Ray brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in Finance, Operations, and HR. He possesses a broad business background having worked for startups, Fortune 500 companies, as well as non-profits. Mr. Lin is currently a sr. executive at an early-stage AI startup leading strategic and operational efforts. He is passionate about serving, mentoring, and empowering youth through Our Time To Act. < Back Ray Lin Board Director Ray brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in Finance, Operations, and HR. He possesses a broad business background having worked for startups, Fortune 500 companies, as well as non-profits. Mr. Lin is currently a sr. executive at an early-stage AI startup leading strategic and operational efforts. He is passionate about serving, mentoring, and empowering youth through Our Time To Act. ray.lin@ourtimetoact.org