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< Back Thank you to those who made it out to our API & Youth Voter Engagement Community Kickoff! Saturday, April 16, 2022 Sparky Mitra, Voter Engagement Project Manager Next Previous

< 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 Receives “Partner of the Year Award” from YIMBY Democrats of San Diego Wednesday, August 23, 2023 Our Time to Act United ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Next Previous

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

A Glimpse into Our Impact Here are the highlights of what we've been up to in the past few years. March 2022 - Redistricting Reform At City Council Rules Committee, we presented research and recommendations for redistricting reform in the City of San Diego. April 2022 - Get Out to Vote Campaign Kickoff We had our Get Out To Vote (GOTV) Campaing kickoff for an initiative to increase API voter engagement. April 2022 - Consulting Youth-Led Tennis Clinic Our Time To Act began consulting JAMMA Tennis Clinic, a youth-led non-for-profit, as they scaled up their programs and considered acquiring 501(c)(3) status. June 2022 - Our First Retreat Ever For the first time, Our Time To Act staff and board members gathered in the SF Bay Area for a retreat. July 2022 - Our Time To Act Marches in San Diego Pride Parade Our Time To Act took part in the 2022 San Diego Pride and Festival. Sept. 2022 - Community Planning Reform Alongside Circulate San Diego, we pushed for reform in San Diego’s community planning group (CPG) policies. Reforms were adopted on September 13th, 2022. Oct. 2022 - "Paws-itivitely Ready for the Polls" Event Our Youth Voter Engagement Project (YVEP) held several successful GOTV events by bringing dogs to campus. Our fluffy friends helped us reach thousands of US San Diego students. Oct. 2022 - Co-Hosting local Candidate Forum YVEP co-hosted a local forum for San Diego City Council DIstrict 6 and Office 35 of the San Diego County Superior Court. Over 80 UC San Diego Students attended. Nov. 2022 - 300+ Doors Knocked for the Asian and Pacific Islander Voter Survey Our API Voter Engagement Project (AVEP) knocked over 300 doors in Mira Mesa, San Diego, to survey unregistered voters in our efforts to understand and close the API voter registration gap. Dec. 2022 - Annual Gala: A Sky Full of Stars To cap off the year, we hosted our first-ever annual gala. With the remarks and attendance of local elected officials, 11 co-hosts and three sponsors, and over 75 attendees, this event was an incredible success. Mar. 2023 - Pro-Housing Rally We shifted the narrative by hosting a pro-housing rally, garnering community members to collectively voice their opinions on the street. Mar. 2023 - Mini-Workshop with SEEN@SDHS Aidan Lin, the Executive Director of Our Time To Act, hosted a workshop to Students 4 Education Equity Now. April. 2023 - National Walkout Against Gun Violence Although Gun Violence Prevention is not an official subject Our Time To Act covers, Our Time To Act members passionately march in support. May. 2023 - Housing Listening Session We sat down with community members, discussed our ideas and feelings in regard to the housing situation in San Diego, and created art. June. 2023 - Finding Hope In Housing One month later, we regrouped again, this time with lego pieces. June. 2023 - Radical Candor Workshop We hosted a Radical Candor Workshop, a concept we value and often share with others. June. 2023 - Our First Ever Coffee Chat Members of Our Time To Act gathered together to sip on some coffee while listening to a presentation on how our brand was created. Aug. 2023 - Planning Committee We attended another planning committee to fight for affordable housing and transportation.

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

< Back Manu Agni, OTTA Board Director, participates in Voice of San Diego's Politifest as a panelist Saturday, October 8, 2022 Aidan Lin, Executive Director On Saturday, October 8th, one of the largest local government forums in San Diego, the Voice of San Diego's Politifest , commenced at the University of San Diego. OTTA United was proud to be represented by Manu Agni, Board Director, in the Fast Bus! panel. The Fast Bus! report authored by Circulate San Diego describes relatively quick and low-cost initiatives to improve bus speed, frequency, and dwell time. Manu is known for his work in transit. As an Urban Studies Planning student, he has worked for transportation consultants, partaken in advocacy work, and led projects at UC San Diego to expand access to transit for students and youth. Manu contributed a valuable youth perspective—armed with extensive knowledge and firsthand experience—to the discussion. OTTA United's work and mission were well-represented by his voice. We look forward to relentlessly championing youth involvement in all spaces, including transit, and thank Circulate San Diego for the invitation to join the panel and Voice of San Diego for hosting the event. Next Previous

Nicole (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate of University of California, San Diego where she received her BA in Political Science - Public Law. Before joining Our Time To Act, Nicole was heavily involved in community service work as well as voter registration and education efforts. She led her high school's Rotary Interact Club, establishing lasting bylaws and garnering over 70 regular volunteers over 3 years. In 2019 and 2020 she led [pre-]voter registration drives, [pre-]registering over 300 high school students. In July 2022, they joined Our Time To Act as our Youth Voter Engagement Director, and in January 2023 became the Director of Housing Justice. Nicole now serves as Our Time To Act's Executive Director. In 2023, Nicole was honored by the OTTA team as Staff of the Year. They were also previously awarded 2022 Passionate Leader of the Year. Nicole believes the current state of housing in San Diego is unacceptable and that youth have the power to change it. She is passionate about organizing her peers to take transformative action toward housing justice. The housing crisis is an intersectional issue and solutions must be informed by those disproportionately impacted by it. Housing may be a complicated topic, but youth have an unmatched capacity for learning. In order for youth to play this critical role in shaping the future of their communities, they must have access to the institutional knowledge, resources, and skills to claim and wield their power together. Nicole is honored to work alongside San Diego's powerful youth community to practice a better future in the present. < Back Nicole Lillie Executive Director Nicole (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate of University of California, San Diego where she received her BA in Political Science - Public Law. Before joining Our Time To Act, Nicole was heavily involved in community service work as well as voter registration and education efforts. She led her high school's Rotary Interact Club, establishing lasting bylaws and garnering over 70 regular volunteers over 3 years. In 2019 and 2020 she led [pre-]voter registration drives, [pre-]registering over 300 high school students. In July 2022, they joined Our Time To Act as our Youth Voter Engagement Director, and in January 2023 became the Director of Housing Justice. Nicole now serves as Our Time To Act's Executive Director. In 2023, Nicole was honored by the OTTA team as Staff of the Year. They were also previously awarded 2022 Passionate Leader of the Year. Nicole believes the current state of housing in San Diego is unacceptable and that youth have the power to change it. She is passionate about organizing her peers to take transformative action toward housing justice. The housing crisis is an intersectional issue and solutions must be informed by those disproportionately impacted by it. Housing may be a complicated topic, but youth have an unmatched capacity for learning. In order for youth to play this critical role in shaping the future of their communities, they must have access to the institutional knowledge, resources, and skills to claim and wield their power together. Nicole is honored to work alongside San Diego's powerful youth community to practice a better future in the present. nicole.lillie@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Marketing Intern Intern (Volunteer) San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before May 31st. ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a driven and enthusiastic Marketing intern to join our Communications team. This is a great opportunity for students or recent graduates to gain hands on experience and mentorship. Position responsibilities include to: Collaborate with the Communication’s team to develop and execute campaigns and strategies Conduct market research and analyze data to support marketing initiatives, contribute to the creation of marketing materials such as fliers, emails, and social media contents Help manage social media accounts and website Assist with strategizing event programing and outreach efforts Assist with Search Engine Marketing using Google Keyword Ads Attend Communication and staff meetings Further duties as assigned REQUIREMENTS Enrolled in a marketing, communications, or related field of study Strong writing and communication skills Familiarity with social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Ability to balance multiple projects and meet deadlines Able to work both independently and as part of a team Basic knowledge of graphic design software, such as Canva, is a plus 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

< 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 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

< Back March Against Gun Violence in Downtown San Diego Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Our Time to Act United On Tuesday, March 14th, youth, parents, and concerned citizens gathered to March Against Gun Violence. Next Previous