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< Back OTTA United hosts first-ever gala in December 2022 with awards, food, and celebration Sunday, December 11, 2022 Benjamin Wang, Staff On Sunday, December 11th, Our Time to Act (OTTA) United was pleased to conclude our eventful 2022 year under “A Sky Full of Stars,” the theme for our first-ever gala. This gala provided the perfect opportunity to thank the community leaders who give us their much-appreciated support and to recognize the passion and dedication of the OTTA United team. Hosted at the Multipurpose Room at the University of California, San Diego, OTTA United was pleased to welcome San Diego leaders such as Mayor Todd Gloria, Councilmember Joe La Cava, and Councilmember Kent Lee to the gala. While the audience enjoyed local San Diego Chinese food from Fan-Fan and butter mochi from KatKatxMochi, Mayor Gloria kicked off the night by delivering his remarks to the OTTA United crowd through a personalized video. Aidan Lin, OTTA United’s executive director, followed up by sharing four vignettes that encapsulated some of the lessons that he learned over the course of OTTA United’s growth and development. Authentic empowerment, leading by nature, and sharing our resources freely were some of the insights shared. Tommy Jung, OTTA United’s Director of Operations, then proceeded to present the internal awards, which celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of individuals within OTTA United. Afterwards, Executive Director Lin returned to the podium to present the external awards, which acknowledged San Diego community groups and individuals who went above and beyond in their support of youth causes and issues. Melanie Cohn, Alex Villafuerte, Jean-Huy Tran, and Tama Becker-Varano received the Youth Ally Award, which recognized the relentless commitment of these individuals to uplift youth voices. The San Diego Communities Collaboration Map Coalition and the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition both received the Coalition Builder Award, which recognized coalitions who did an exceptional job in shaping and leading our communities as a whole. Youth Will and the Asian Business Association of San Diego received the Outstanding Community Partner Award, an award that acknowledged and appreciates those who have demonstrated their steadfast support for OTTA United. Rhianen Callahan received the Legacy Award, a nod to a former member of OTTA United who made a lasting impact on our organization, and Judy Ki received the Legendary Youth Champion Award for fearlessly commanding respect for youth and youth leaders and for her support of youth causes using her own resources and networks. Next, President Janice Park, Ethics & Policy Committee Chair Gabrille Darisme, and Director Manu Agni of OTTA United’s Board of Directors answered the question “Why OTTA?” by delivering an interactive presentation about OTTA United’s values, determination, and accomplishments. Board Directors Park, Darisme, and Agni argued that supporting OTTA United is a phenomenal future investment – one that supports youth and the community. Finally, Councilmember Kent Lee delivered the closing remarks, wrapping up a monumental gala as he drew upon his own lived experience as a student at UC San Diego and a youth leader to reflect on the impact that the OTTA United youth have been able to make in the local community. Ultimately, this gala was a celebration of the bridge that OTTA United has built between youth and youth allies, a bridge more than 75 attendees and OTTA United board and staff are now able to cross for the benefit of the San Diego community. OTTA United would like to thank everyone who took time out of their day to share this special moment with us. OTTA United would also like to give a special thank you to Viet Vote, the Asian Business Association San Diego, and the YMCA of San Diego County for sponsoring our organization and gala! We would also like to thank Alex Villafuerte, the Asian Solidarity Collective, Judy Ki, Marina Tostado & Oliver Lin, Melanie Cohn, the Organization of Chinese Americans of San Diego, Ron Cho, Senate Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Social Artistry, Tama Becker-Varano, and Trinh Le for being our lovely co-hosts. Because of your support, we are better equipped to fulfill our mission of organizing powerful youth for an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. We would also like to thank Councilmembers Joe La Cava and Kent Lee for making time to come to our gala. Last but not least, OTTA United would like to give a huge thank you to all of the volunteers, staff, and board members who helped make this night possible. In particular, this event would not have been possible without Isaac Lara and Rachel Choy, OTTA United’s Director and Assistant Director of Communications. 2022 was a wonderful year of organizing, mobilizing, and advocating, and we here at OTTA United look forward to another year of great success. Next Previous

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Everything newsworthy, right at your fingertips. Here you can find our updates, blogs, and social media feed. THE NEWS YOU OTTA SEE THIS WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO Our Press Releases Welcome to our Press Releases section, where we share our most current and important updates on the work we're doing. From the initiatives we're currently running to the impact we've made in the communities we serve, this space is dedicated to giving you an in-depth look at our progress. 03/04/2026 Empty Home Tax Proposal Coming to a Ballot Near You 07/17/2024 Announcing a new chapter of leadership at Our Time To Act! 03/04/2024 Announcing our new name: Our Time To Act 09/21/2023 Circulate San Diego Designates OTTA as Sustainable Growth Award Winner Page 1 of 7 ALL PRESS RELEASES The Newsletter SUBSCRIBE STORIES FROM OUR TEAM OTTA Blurb OTTA Blurbs is a unique corner of our nonprofit dedicated to showcasing the voices and insights written by our team members. Explore "Our Blurbs" to gain a deeper connection with our team, our mission, and the causes we champion. Aathmika: Your Guide to Changing Your Community Aathmika Radhachandran Jan 1, 2024 3 min read Michael Nguyen: Chess at OTTA Michael Nguyen Dec 4, 2023 2 min read 1 2 Press Releases Newsletter OTTA Blurbs

Samyak Jain is majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He spends his free time dancing and spending time with his family. In his past few years being a Vice President with Our Time To Act, he has made countless priceless memories and connections and is looking forward to seeing what Our Time To Act will accomplish next. < Back Samyak Jain Secretary Samyak Jain is majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He spends his free time dancing and spending time with his family. In his past few years being a Vice President with Our Time To Act, he has made countless priceless memories and connections and is looking forward to seeing what Our Time To Act will accomplish next. samyak.jain@ourtimetoact.org

Gala Program Thank you for being an integral part of this extraordinary evening! SCHEDULE MENU SUPPORT OUR WORK As we come together to celebrate, we invite you to join us in making a lasting impact. Your support means the world to us, and we believe in the power of collective generosity. If you're inspired to contribute and help us further our mission, we welcome your donations. SUPPORT OUR WORK CO-HOSTS Martin Campos Judy Ki Kevin Shin Abbey Reuter Marina Tostado Oliver Lin Carol Kim Tama Becker-Varano Indroneal Banerjee YMCA of San Diego County Josh Kavanagh Leif Gensert Viet Voices SPONSORS Marina Tostado & Oliver Lin San Diego Youth Homelessness Consortium LEAVE US FEEDBACK Thanks for submitting! How satisfied were you with the event? How engaging was the program? How did you hear about this event? Choose an option What did you think about the length of the program? How likely are you to attend our other events in the future? Please share any thoughts, comments, and ideas for future events. If you would like a direct response, please leave your email. If not, leave empty. Send Feedback SHARE YOUR MEMORIES! Here's a community Google Folder of all our Gala photos. Feel free to contribute to and download this digital album which captured fun and exciting moments this afternoon. December 30th: Our Time To Act meet-up in Stockton at T% over the holidays to work on Gala cards and speeches together. GOOGLE FOLDER

2nd Annual Winter Gala: Dawn In The Mountains Our Time To Act proudly presents our 2nd annual gala on January 13th! Join us for our midday celebration of our collective accomplishments. There’ll be delicious food, featured speakers, and project showcases. We can’t wait to see you there. TICKET PRICES BUY TICKETS DATE Saturday, January 13th, 2024 TIME 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. PT LOCATION The Great Hall at UCSD (9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093) ADMISSION PRICES $100 $25 $250 INFO Co-hosts have the option for a full table for $600. Along with all co-host benefits, you will receive 7 extra tickets for you to bring 7 guests to our gala! (full table typically costs $800) BUY TICKETS price SPONSOR THE EVENT By sponsoring us, you’ll be a large part of our Gala. Even after, you’ll play an active role in supporting Our Time To Act by funding our future events and projects. BECOME A SPONSOR VIEW SPONSOR PACKET CO-HOSTS Martin Campos Judy Ki Kevin Shin Abbey Reuter Tama Becker-Varano Indroneal Banerjee Josh Kavanagh YMCA of San Diego County Leif Gensert SPONSORS San Diego Youth Homelessness Consortium San Diego Youth Marina Tostado & Oliver Lin QUOTES FROM OUR BOARD “The gala in three words: inspiring, impressive, and community—there were so many great people we were able to connect with.” “If anyone has the ability to support, empower, or champion youth and have the passion for it, this is for them – it’s so meaningful to invest in the next generation” “I’m grateful to be a part of something bigger than myself, to be involved in youth empowerment and see the impact in communities” Anna Pierce Oliver Lin Gabrielle Darisme A Glimpse into Last Year's Gala 2022's Winter Gala: A Sky Full of Stars celebrated our accomplishments, which could not have been possible without our community. After all, it's only when together that we shine brightly, dazzling the dark night with shimmering stars. View our collection of photos, videos, and blog below. READ MORE

< Back Activating Youth: Catalyst Leadership Second Workshop Tuesday, August 22, 2023 Our Time to Act United MEDIA CONTACT: Mariya Grabovska, Press Intern ( mariya.grabovska@ottaunited.org ) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: In a transformative Activating Youth: Catalyst Leadership Workshop held on August 22, 2023, OTTA United unveiled a powerful model that explores the dynamics of leadership and connection, led by Aidan Lin, Executive Director, and Yvania Rubio, a former director at OTTA United. The workshop, hosted by Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, brought together a diverse group of individuals eager to enhance their leadership skills and create meaningful connections. At the workshop's core was the innovative Activation model, dissected into two essential components: "Motivation" and "Foundation." From Motivation stems the crucial elements of holding accountability and inspiring action, while Foundation provides the building blocks of building rapport and showing vulnerability. This unique model demonstrates the inherent capacity of "Activation" to foster genuine connections. The event witnessed a remarkable crowd overlap between the two workshop days, indicating that participants not only found value in the initial session but were compelled to return for a deeper dive into the model's principles. We were very excited to see some familiar faces and meet more individuals interested in what OTTA offers. "We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Catalyst of San Diego, the organizers of this event, for recognizing and supporting the strength of our youth organization," said Aidan Lin. Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties commitment to empowering youth aligns seamlessly with our mission, and we applaud them for championing the cause. The first workshop, held on June 10, 2023, set the stage for the August event, and OTTA is thrilled to see the continued interest and enthusiasm from the community. Looking towards the future, OTTA is excited about delivering more training programs that serve and empower youth and youth organizations. While expressing gratitude to Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, OTTA United looks forward to collaborating with various partners to expand its impact and reach. "OTTA United is committed to creating a lasting impact on the lives of youth, and we hope to replicate the success of this workshop in the near future," added Aidan Lin. Next Previous

< Back to Open Positions Board Director Volunteer California | Remote APPLY Rolling Application ABOUT THE ROLE Working within the Board of Directors and reporting directly to the President of the Board, board members perform more than administrative tasks; they are the governing body of the organization that establishes and oversees our mission, priorities, business operations, long-term development, and finance goals. REQUIREMENTS Familiarity with OTTA United’s mission, vision, values, and goals Excellent written and verbal communication skills Organization and interpersonal skills Strong information analysis skills Goal and future-oriented decision-making skills Ability to understand and analyze financial reports Ability to evaluate executive performances Ability to participate in the execution of strategic plans Ability to fulfill fiduciary responsibilities 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. 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

16 projects, 1000's of hours... check out our impact in connecting the San Diego community to efforts in housing, civic engagement, and more! Check out our impact in 2022! Download

McKayla is a Human Biology Student at the University of California San Diego. She joined Our Time To Act in September 2022 as an AVEP Researcher. As a researcher, McKayla is responsible for collecting and analyzing data on barriers to API voting. Before Our Time To Act, McKayla worked in her Associated Students’ Office of Local Affairs as the Marketing Director, where she helped with redistricting efforts. She eventually hopes to attend graduate or medical school in pursuit for a career in medicine or biomedical research. She plans to use her career and focus her work on uplifting and addressing the many issues minority populations face within the healthcare system. < Back McKayla Dasha Sarmiento AVEP Researcher McKayla is a Human Biology Student at the University of California San Diego. She joined Our Time To Act in September 2022 as an AVEP Researcher. As a researcher, McKayla is responsible for collecting and analyzing data on barriers to API voting. Before Our Time To Act, McKayla worked in her Associated Students’ Office of Local Affairs as the Marketing Director, where she helped with redistricting efforts. She eventually hopes to attend graduate or medical school in pursuit for a career in medicine or biomedical research. She plans to use her career and focus her work on uplifting and addressing the many issues minority populations face within the healthcare system. md.sarmiento@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Director of Finance & Budgeting Staff Director (Volunteer) San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before June 16th. ABOUT THE ROLE Reporting to the Associate Executive Director, the primary job of the Director of Finance & Budgeting is to safeguard OTTA United’s financial stability and maintain the nonprofit’s books with accounting best practices. JOB DESCRIPTION The Director of Finance & Budgeting leads in the preparation of OTTA United’s annual budget, monitors fund usage, and approves project budgets and fund requests. Key job responsibilities include: Leading accounting and budgeting for the nonprofit Monitoring the allocation and use of funds Reviewing and maintaining compliance with laws and financial practices Leading the creation of the Annual Budget and all amendments, in conjunction with Staff Executive Leadership and the Board of Directors Drafting and implementing financial policies REQUIREMENTS DREAM ROLE This is the dream role for someone who is looking to support a meaningful cause with strong knowledge of best accounting practices, how to manage money, and the ability to provide a strong check on the usage of funds. Key skillsets may include: Accounting and budgeting skills and best practices Monitoring funds Approving and processing purchases Financial legal compliance Takes initiative and is willing to stand firm in policy EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Previous accounting and budgeting experience is required. A high school diploma is preferred, although not required if a candidate has exemplary experience. WORK MODALITY & LOCATION The work modality of this role is either hybrid or remote. Work is welcome in person at OTTA United’s office is located in San Diego, California (3252 Holiday Court Ste 103, San Diego, CA 92037), but it is not required. PAY & BENEFITS This position is on a volunteer basis. There is no compensation for this position at this time. OTTA United deeply values the potential for personal and career development and strives to uplift its team members to best position them for their bright futures. Non-monetary benefits include: Tailored work experience and growth to fit your desired career path Networking opportunities with community nonprofits, policymakers, elected officials, and companies Letters of recommendation Certified Volunteer Hours, if requested A tight-knit team and community of fellow change-makers EXPECTED HOURS & FLEXIBILITY In a Director position, expected hours fluctuate from 15-25 hours per week. Certain responsibilities, such as staff meetings, are fixed. Other obligations can be flexible around your schedule. Many staff members are also students, so our work environment is as flexible as possible. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OTTA United is a youth-founded, youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to organize powerful youth for an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. OTTA United values authenticity and passion. We play the role of coalition builders and mentors within our communities, sharing knowledge, resources, credit, and impact. And as a justice-oriented, impact-driven, and people-centered organization, our perspective grounds us with who we serve and the work we do while advancing our mission. Applications are a two-way street. We make our values as an organization clear to you to make sure our team is the right fit—and we hope we are! Here are some things to keep in mind: Our team values flexibility and 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

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. Schedule a Housing Chat San Diego Perspectives We canvassed all nine council districts of the City of San Diego to administer a survey on housing and minimum lot sizes. This survey identified the perspectives and considerations of San Diego residents regarding their housing, neighborhoods, and the future of the city. We knocked on 3,528 doors and received 319 responses from across the City. Check out the numerical results by hitting the button! 1/11 Canvassing Results Take Action! We can't win this fight alone, join us! You can take action by joining us at one of our upcoming meetings or events! Events Interest Form 1/7 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