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YOU ARE INVITED: This was a monumental year for Our Time to Act United. From advocating for equitable representation of districts during redistricting, to joining our community for San Diego Pride, to enhancing youth and API civic engagement, we have had the privilege of serving our community and seeing our impact firsthand uplift youth. And now it is time to celebrate! We extend a humble invitation to attend our 2022 First Annual Gala: A Sky Full of Stars . We hope you can join us for a night full of excitement, including food from local businesses, a project showcase highlighting this year's efforts, and keynote speakers Aidan Lin, OTTA United's Executive Director, and San Diego's Mayor, Todd Gloria. When: December 11th | 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Where: Multi Purpose Room, in the Student Services Center, at UC San Diego SEE TICKET PRICES BUY YOUR TICKET BUY YOUR TICKET Ticket Price WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!

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."

Support our cause by making a charitable donation. Contributions of any size help us continue doing our work and advancing our mission. Help us organize the future in the present WHY GIVE? BECOME A MEMBER OTHER WAYS TO GIVE Our work is life-changing and transformational Building youth power has the ability to transform communities and make the world a better place. Take, for instance, our recent wins in the past year in San Diego increasing youth and diverse representation in the community planning process and opening thousands of acres of land to more housing development to create more housing opportunities for youth and students . Where your money goes It's important to know what your donation goes towards. Here are our three main categories for use of funds: ORGANIZING YOUTH POWER We organize youth and build youth power by performing outreach, recruitment, programming, training, mentorship, mobilizing, and leadership development to support youth on causes that matter to them. HIGH-IMPACT PROJECTS We run various youth-led, high-impact projects that drive change in specific focus areas. Last year, we supported youth and AAPI voter engagement, redistricting reform, and housing and transit advocacy. TEAM CAPACITY BUILDING When you donate, you empower our young team to organize and advocate for youth across California. Our capacity is also dependent on training, insurance, critical software, and office space. At Our Time To Act, this is our power. Check out this short video showcasing some of our amazing team and work we do here. Give today BECOME A MEMBER OTHER WAYS TO GIVE

< Back Aidan Lin, Executive Director, awarded "Bridge Builder of the Year" for API Heritage Month Thursday, May 19, 2022 Our Time to Act United On May 19th, 2022, Aidan Lin was awarded the "2022 Bridge Builder of the Year Award" at the Asian Pacific Islander Leaders of the Year Awards hosted by the San Diego Business Journal and Asian Business Association San Diego . Aidan was recognized for his work with Our Time to Act (OTTA) United in his capacity as Executive Director for his leadership during the City of San Diego's 2020-21 redistricting process, during which OTTA United partnered with dozens of community-based organizations to push for equitable representation for the Asian, Latine, Black, and youth communities of San Diego. OTTA United is honored to have its principal leader recognized for his work in the community—particularly as a force for coalition-building and intersectional collaboration. As we celebrate Asian Heritage Month, we are proud of Aidan's accomplishments and the invaluable relationships we have built with San Diego's API community. Next Previous

Manu Agni (he/him) is a transit advocate, transportation planning student at UC San Diego, and a Board member at youth empowerment nonprofit Our Time to Act. At UC San Diego, he has served as Student Body President, helping manage the U-PASS transit program and advocacy for thousands of students. In these roles, he has worked to help develop extension transportation choices for students and young people in San Diego, including walking, bicycling, and easy transit access. He has also worked in consulting for transit projects, and serves on MTS’ Community Advisory, and Passenger Safety & Security boards. < Back Manu Agni Board Director Manu Agni (he/him) is a transit advocate, transportation planning student at UC San Diego, and a Board member at youth empowerment nonprofit Our Time to Act. At UC San Diego, he has served as Student Body President, helping manage the U-PASS transit program and advocacy for thousands of students. In these roles, he has worked to help develop extension transportation choices for students and young people in San Diego, including walking, bicycling, and easy transit access. He has also worked in consulting for transit projects, and serves on MTS’ Community Advisory, and Passenger Safety & Security boards. manu.agni@ourtimetoact.org

< 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

Aidan Lin-Tostado (he/him) is the President of Our Time To Act. He co-founded Our Time To Act in 2018, serving as Executive Director during its rise as a powerful youth organizing nonprofit in San Diego. As President, he is honored to lead the volunteer Board of Directors in matters of general governance, budgeting, and mission advancement. Aidan works full-time at Nonviolent Peaceforce, an international civilian protection nonprofit. He also serves on the new California State Youth Empowerment Commission advising the State Legislature and Governor, the City of San Diego Youth Commission, and the San Diego Youth Homelessness Consortium Steering Committee. Aidan has received recognition for his work in the community, including the 2022 Community Service Award from San Diego Pride and the 2022 Bridge Builder of the Year from the API Leaders of the Year Awards. He is a student at UC San Diego and a 2024 McNair Scholar. < Back Aidan Lin-Tostado President Aidan Lin-Tostado (he/him) is the President of Our Time To Act. He co-founded Our Time To Act in 2018, serving as Executive Director during its rise as a powerful youth organizing nonprofit in San Diego. As President, he is honored to lead the volunteer Board of Directors in matters of general governance, budgeting, and mission advancement. Aidan works full-time at Nonviolent Peaceforce, an international civilian protection nonprofit. He also serves on the new California State Youth Empowerment Commission advising the State Legislature and Governor, the City of San Diego Youth Commission, and the San Diego Youth Homelessness Consortium Steering Committee. Aidan has received recognition for his work in the community, including the 2022 Community Service Award from San Diego Pride and the 2022 Bridge Builder of the Year from the API Leaders of the Year Awards. He is a student at UC San Diego and a 2024 McNair Scholar. aidan.LT@ourtimetoact.org

Jordan (he/him/his) was once a football player with a love for basketball and now is a die-hard Celtics fan. Jordan is a proud Samoan, Black, and Mexican man who's turned past challenges into a powerful journey of growth. He is dedicated to making a positive impact and inspiring others, now serving as a Housing Justice Organizer. < Back Jordan Koster Housing Justice Organizer Jordan (he/him/his) was once a football player with a love for basketball and now is a die-hard Celtics fan. Jordan is a proud Samoan, Black, and Mexican man who's turned past challenges into a powerful journey of growth. He is dedicated to making a positive impact and inspiring others, now serving as a Housing Justice Organizer. jordan.koster@ourtimetoact.org

< Back OP-ED: "More Housing, For Us and Our Climate" by Nicole Lillie, Housing Projects Director Monday, February 6, 2023 Our Time to Act United Our Time to Act (OTTA) United's new Housing Projects Director is making waves. On February 6th, 2023, Nicole Lillie's Op-Ed titled " More Housing, For Us and Our Climate " was published in the UC San Diego Guardian newspaper. In her piece, Housing Projects Director Lillie advocates for more "high-density, multi-family, mixed-use housing" to address both the housing and climate crisis. Housing Crisis Ms. Lillie uses historical data to identify the root cause of housing unaffordability in San Diego and in Southern California. "The ultimate origin of San Diego’s housing crisis is that San Diego has failed to build enough homes overall ... '[b]y one simple measure, San Diego’s lack of homebuilding since 2010 has resulted in 59,000 fewer units than what’s needed to match the population growth in that time.' In order to address the root cause of housing unaffordability and homelessness, we need to build more homes." The status quo in California and across the country holds up single family homes as the solution. But this is a dangerous trend. In fact, single family homes are "rooted in exclusionary housing practices like redlining and racial steering" and are still widely inaccessible to non-white families today. San Diego needs the most effective and economical option: high-density, multi-family, mixed-use housing. Climate Crisis This type of housing also helps us address and combat the climate crisis. Ms. Lillie explains, " 50% of local emissions in the City of San Diego come from transportation. When you build high-density housing near transit, it enables more people to take public transportation instead of personal vehicles. Mixed-use development is also key. This is when you put housing next to commercial buildings. On UC San Diego’s campus, you can study, work, and live — all within a walkable or bikeable distance." In contrast to single family homes, which have higher per capita carbon emissions and reinforce car dependency, high-density and mixed-use are clearly a cleaner choice. OTTA United is proud to be a leader in the housing organizing space in the City of San Diego. Last year, OTTA United helped pass city-wide Community Planning Group reform and pushed high-density housing in University City at a Planning Commission hearing. Housing Projects Director Lillie will continue to trailblaze youth involvement in housing policy and direction in 2023. Read the full Op-Ed here: ucsdguardian.org More Housing, For Us and Our Climate - UCSD Guardian Nicole Lillie is the Housing Projects Director at Our Time to Act United and a second year TMC student studying political science at Next Previous

< 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

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

Karis (she/her) is currently a student at Homestead Highschool. She briefly joined Our Time To Act in May-August 2022 as a Graphic Design Intern, and returned in March 2024 as OTTA's People Specialist. Outside of Our Time To Act, Karis is actively involved in her school's leadership program as a class officer, helping plan events that create a sense of belonging within Homestead's community. Additionally, she is in the process of completing Royal Conservatory of Music Level 10 for piano and has been playing the instrument for the past 12 years. In her free time, Karis enjoys messing around on the piano, listening to music, playing tennis, and gaming. Ultimately, she hopes to use her skills to help OTTA continue to grow as an organization. < Back Karis Lin People Specialist Karis (she/her) is currently a student at Homestead Highschool. She briefly joined Our Time To Act in May-August 2022 as a Graphic Design Intern, and returned in March 2024 as OTTA's People Specialist. Outside of Our Time To Act, Karis is actively involved in her school's leadership program as a class officer, helping plan events that create a sense of belonging within Homestead's community. Additionally, she is in the process of completing Royal Conservatory of Music Level 10 for piano and has been playing the instrument for the past 12 years. In her free time, Karis enjoys messing around on the piano, listening to music, playing tennis, and gaming. Ultimately, she hopes to use her skills to help OTTA continue to grow as an organization. karis.lin@ourtimetoact.org