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< 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 Assistant Director of Development Volunteer South Bay Area APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Assistant Director of Development works within the Operations branch focusing on fund procurement and financial security. They help guide and direct the work of the Fundraising Specialists and Grant Writers to financially support Our Time to Act United's mission. REQUIREMENTS Prior relevant experience preferred. Demonstrates ability to connect others to our mission and foster interpersonal relations. 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 Aathmika Radhachandran Marketing & Event Specialist Aathmika Radhachandran (she/her) is a marketing intern at Our Time To Act and a rising senior at Scripps Ranch High School. Her interests lie in the fields of business, marketing, and graphic design. Current events and activism intrigue her, and she is excited to explore how her passions can intersect in this position. She also enjoys spending her time coaching middle schoolers for Science Olympiad, learning piano, and playing tennis. aathmika.radhachandran@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Housing Justice Director 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 to direct one of these teams. Job Summary: Housing Justice Directors will build and practice skills related to organizing, mobilizing, and advocating for housing justice at the grassroots level and leading their teams in strategizing for and executing these efforts. This will be achieved with peer-to-peer learning and leadership opportunities. Housing Justice Directors will lead their teams in strategizing weekly, monthly, and yearly goals for their focus area, planning events, campaigns, and actions, and delegating necessary tasks to their direct reports. Additionally, they will communicate frequently with the other Housing Justice Directors, the full OTTA Director team, and the Executive Director. You will be primarily responsible for managing your direct team members and your focus area. Job Details: Plan, attend, and lead weekly working and check-in meetings with the Housing Justice Team Members on your project team. Attend monthly full-team meetings with all Housing Justice Teams. 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 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. Lead in planning, preparation, and execution of community events, tabling, and other direct actions. Practice successful active communication with colleagues, direct reports, and supervisors and timely completion of assigned tasks and expectations. Communicate our mission, and project focus area effectively and professionally with community members and the press. Participate in grant-writing for project or focus area related proposals. Manage direct reports through consistent and regular communication, providing feedback utilizing radical candor, and proper task delegation. 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 15-25 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. A director position does require additional capacity and comes with an expectation of greater consistency in organizational activities internally and externally. 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 communicate feedback effectively and with care. Ability to be flexible and adaptable to evolving situations. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to problem-solve quickly when issues arise. 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. Experience on the Housing Justice Team. Prior volunteer leadership or management experience. 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

< Back Ashley Cha Graphic Design Intern Ashley Cha (she/her) is a graphic design intern at OTTA and is currently a sophomore at Santa Clara University studying Studio Art with an emphasis in graphic design and a minor in Management Information Systems. She is experienced in graphic design, specifically UI/UX, and is passionate about creating creative and effective art and design. At Santa Clara University, she is the Public Relations Officer for DayBreak, a K-POP cover dance crew, and the Korean Student Association. She also works at the De Saisset Museum as a Visitor Services Ambassador and contributes to creating promotional materials for the museum. In 2024, she participated in the Rice Design-a-Thon. Outside of work, she enjoys listening to music and dancing. ashley.cha@ourtimetoact.org

< Back OTTA United at San Diego Planning Commission for University City Plan Update Thursday, September 29, 2022 Aidan Lin, Executive Director On Thursday, September 29th, 2022, the University City Plan Update was brought before the San Diego Planning Commission. This plan includes the major upzoning of large portions of North University City (UC). As demonstrated in a 2022 survey conducted by the planning department , a majority of UC residents, many of whom are students, support high-density and mixed-use development. Such growth would lower carbon emissions per capita, increase the available housing stock in San Diego, create walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, and more. OTTA United and other advocacy groups showed up in support of these changes. Specifically, we sought to ensure the youth voice was a part of this discussion. "Students' legitimacy as a consistent voice in the community has been proven time and time again. Yet at every turn, we need to justify our presence in these conversations." Sparky Mitra , a Project Director at OTTA United, said. "I came to San Diego as a bioengineering student alone, but those who consistently push back against my authority as a student have forced me to become much more, including a housing justice and environmental justice advocate." During my public comment, I touched upon the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the process, referencing the work of the planning department. "The work of former city planner Katie Wetherspoon to include students, renters, and POC residents in the community planning process allowed for one of the most representative community surveys in University City. Over 50% of the community supported the highest-density options and an overwhelming majority supported adding considerable amount amounts of density in the area ... To stray away from high-density development would invalidate the input of the most underrepresented voices in this process: renters, students, and employees of University City." Leana Cortez , our Director of Advocacy, pressed strongly on the immediate need for dense, mixed-use housing. "We really cannot postpone density and mixed-use options anymore. It may seem feasible to those who are already established homeowners but it's not feasible for renters, students, and working professionals that struggle to build roots here in University City ... Let's ensure the future of University City by championing climate, housing, and job opportunities." OTTA United looks forward to our continued advocacy in support of a bright future for University City. Next Previous

< Back OTTA United & students play a major role in successful push for more housing in San Diego Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Our Time to Act United Yesterday, February 14th, 2023, Our Time to Act (OTTA) United and students successfully pushed San Diego City Council to adopt Sustainable Development Areas (SDAs). This new policy, replacing Transit Priority Areas, would open 5,224 acres of land to the potential for higher-density development programs. This change is essential to ensuring the future of housing, affordability, and sustainability for youth and students in San Diego. OTTA United tabled on UC San Diego’s campus, speaking to nearly 100 students and having meaningful conversations about how the housing crisis has impacted students’ lives. From these valuable conversations, OTTA United collected over a dozen personal testimonials and comments which were submitted to the City. At noon on February 14th, 2023, students met together at the UC San Diego Central Campus Station and embarked on the 30-minute trip via the Blue Line Trolley to deliver their thoughts to our City Council in person. In addition to written and in-person testimony, OTTA United was the only pro-housing group to deliver a planned presentation. Nicole Lillie, Housing Projects Director, and Aidan Lin, Executive Director, detailed specific student-related arguments in favor of SDAs and dismantled opposing arguments. The presentation concluded with slides highlighting some of the comments from students who could not share their concerns in person. OTTA United – Sustainable Development Areas (final) .pdf Download PDF • 17.16MB Before voting on the motion, students received special recognition from Councilmember Kent Lee (District 6): “I do want to take a moment to applaud the diverse young speakers for taking time out of their busy school and work schedules to help us understand why this might matter. These decisions will take many years to meaningfully change the city, and we need to plan and build for San Diego both for today, and for the generations of San Diegans to come. My fight has been and always will be to ensure that all San Diegans, now and into the future, have the opportunity to live, work, and play in San Diego.” Students were also highlighted by Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, “We are planning not for the city that we have today, or the city that we wish we had 20 years ago, but the city that we want—which is a city, as Councilmember Lee put it, where everyone has an opportunity to live here. Not just folks that live here today, but [also] the young people that are growing up here, the students who spoke so passionately today—we have to create housing opportunities for them. Those folks exist today, and they matter today, and we have to do something to ensure they will have an opportunity to live here and thrive here.” For OTTA United’s efforts, students were featured in local news coverage of the adoption of this policy. This case shows how students and youth have the power to make a difference on issues that matter. It is absolutely necessary for students to get involved with the issue of housing—because of the long-term nature of solutions—and OTTA United looks forward to continuing to engage students as decision-makers to forge a brighter future. To take action or learn more, please contact Nicole Lillie, Housing Projects Director, at nicole.lillie@ottaunited.org . Next Previous

Welcome to a night full of excitement, including food from local businesses, a project showcase highlighting this year's efforts, and keynote speakers. MENU: ITINERARY:

< Back to Open Positions Housing Justice Team Member Volunteer Position On-Site (San Diego) APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before December 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 . PLEASE NOTE THE ELIMINATING EXCULSIONARY ZONING TEAM IS NOW FILLED 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 January 15th, 2025. 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

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< Back OTTA United Celebrates Positivity and Community in Pro-Housing Listening Session Saturday, May 6, 2023 Our Time to Act United MEDIA CONTACT: Aidan Lin, Executive Director ( aidan.lin@ottaunited.org ) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: At 10 AM on May 6th, pro-housing residents gathered at Doyle Park for a warm, uplifting discussion on the housing crisis in San Diego. Participants ranging from children to youth to older folks focused on identifying the ways housing insecurity touches their lives and the lives of their friends and loved ones—as well as proposed solutions that work to brighten the future for all San Diegans. Community members expressed themselves on slips of paper representing leaves, roots, and water droplets that came together to form beautiful problem and solution boards. In order to visualize the future, individuals also created their own vision boards while discussing with one another, enjoying donuts, and appreciating San Diego's weather. While in community, we welcomed parkgoers into friendly conversations and helped a fellow resident jumpstart his car. "We chose to come together, as residents, neighbors, friends, renters, students, and, most importantly, as a community , in order to show our commitment to improving our neighborhoods and the City of San Diego," said Aidan Lin, Executive Director of OTTA United. "It's always disheartening to hear others discount our dedication to the communities we live in. That's why we are here—in a community park—to invest our love in our community's collective future." OTTA United works to realize an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. Housing is a key component to achieve all three; San Diego needs diverse forms of housing—including mixed-use and multi-family—robust transit options, and increased walk-ability and bike-ability to live safe, fulfilling, and positive lives. In order to foster this better future, OTTA United believes in broadening the conversation by inviting groups that are underrepresented and often shunned from community planning, especially youth and students, to ensure we are building a tomorrow that serves us all. About OTTA United: OTTA United is a youth-founded and youth-led organization that values authenticity and passion and seeks to organize powerful youth for an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. Its members are coalition builders and mentors within our communities, who share knowledge, resources, credit, and impact. More information about OTTA United can be found at ottaunited.org . You can follow us on social media on Instagram and Facebook . ### Next Previous