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Henna is a fourth year Business Psychology student at the University of California San Diego. Before joining Our Time To Act, Henna dedicated her time to a senior home where she served as the event coordinator for our events. Henna planned and executed thei monthly visits to the local senior home where they would put on fun games and did arts and crafts. Henna's hobbies include reading and cooking and outside of OTTA, Henna also work in retail. < Back Henna Malikyar Director of Operations and People Henna is a fourth year Business Psychology student at the University of California San Diego. Before joining Our Time To Act, Henna dedicated her time to a senior home where she served as the event coordinator for our events. Henna planned and executed thei monthly visits to the local senior home where they would put on fun games and did arts and crafts. Henna's hobbies include reading and cooking and outside of OTTA, Henna also work in retail. henna.malikyar@ourtimetoact.org

Arianna (she/her) is one of the Housing Justice Organizers of Our Time To Act, she's currently a junior attending Lincoln High School. She is ASB Class of 2025 president, and founded the "ASB Class of 2025 Fundraising Committee" with the help of her fellow officers, which is a club that allows students to have the opportunity to be included in ASB other than just the elected officers. Arianna is also a student athlete who plays basketball, softball, and was JV Captain during her sophomore season. Arianna is in the Aaron Price Fellowship program, which exposed her to opportunities such as being the moderator of the youth panel at the 2022 Politifest which highlighted the importance in youth being politically involved, co-hosting at a County event about gun violence, being a youth intern at Project AWARE, which is a program that focuses on developing a advocating for troubled youth, and being Region 12 CASC's committee director. < Back Arianna Alvarado Housing Justice Organizer Arianna (she/her) is one of the Housing Justice Organizers of Our Time To Act, she's currently a junior attending Lincoln High School. She is ASB Class of 2025 president, and founded the "ASB Class of 2025 Fundraising Committee" with the help of her fellow officers, which is a club that allows students to have the opportunity to be included in ASB other than just the elected officers. Arianna is also a student athlete who plays basketball, softball, and was JV Captain during her sophomore season. Arianna is in the Aaron Price Fellowship program, which exposed her to opportunities such as being the moderator of the youth panel at the 2022 Politifest which highlighted the importance in youth being politically involved, co-hosting at a County event about gun violence, being a youth intern at Project AWARE, which is a program that focuses on developing a advocating for troubled youth, and being Region 12 CASC's committee director. arianna.alvarado@ourtimetoact.org

Masaki (he/him/his) is a student at the University of California, San Diego majoring in Joint Mathematics-Economics, and Urban Studies and Planning. He has been passionate about issues in American cities and communities since learning about the field in October 2021 right after arriving at UCSD. In the summer of 2022, he led a group of 15 young people to advocate for housing and transit at City Council and Planning Commission meetings in his hometown of Jurupa Valley, CA, garnering recognition from elected and appointed officials. He hopes to continue this work in his hometown and San Diego. Outside of Our Time To Act as a Housing Justice Director of Eliminating Exclusionary Zoning, Masaki is also interested in learning about issues regarding transportation, particularly public transit. He is currently working with his city to study the current status of transit in the community, surveying the population about their perceptions of it and what could be done to improve it. After graduation, he hopes to work as an urban planner in Southern California to continue advocating for better public transit and housing policies to benefit everyone in the region. < Back Masaki Mendoza Housing Justice Director Masaki (he/him/his) is a student at the University of California, San Diego majoring in Joint Mathematics-Economics, and Urban Studies and Planning. He has been passionate about issues in American cities and communities since learning about the field in October 2021 right after arriving at UCSD. In the summer of 2022, he led a group of 15 young people to advocate for housing and transit at City Council and Planning Commission meetings in his hometown of Jurupa Valley, CA, garnering recognition from elected and appointed officials. He hopes to continue this work in his hometown and San Diego. Outside of Our Time To Act as a Housing Justice Director of Eliminating Exclusionary Zoning, Masaki is also interested in learning about issues regarding transportation, particularly public transit. He is currently working with his city to study the current status of transit in the community, surveying the population about their perceptions of it and what could be done to improve it. After graduation, he hopes to work as an urban planner in Southern California to continue advocating for better public transit and housing policies to benefit everyone in the region. masaki.mendoza@ourtimetoact.org

Ria Maheshwari is a high school senior. Before becoming the Vice President of Our Time To Act, she served as the Outreach Specialist and within the Department of External Operations. As an aspiring lawyer, Ria combines her ambitions of argumentation and social justice as the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Captain and Board Member for the Speech and Debate Club at her high school and by being part of several community service clubs, such as the National Honor Society. Sports being a key passion of her life, you can always find Ria being active. For example, she travels across the United States to play competitive volleyball with her teammates at Mountain View Volleyball Club. < Back Ria Maheshwari Vice President Ria Maheshwari is a high school senior. Before becoming the Vice President of Our Time To Act, she served as the Outreach Specialist and within the Department of External Operations. As an aspiring lawyer, Ria combines her ambitions of argumentation and social justice as the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Captain and Board Member for the Speech and Debate Club at her high school and by being part of several community service clubs, such as the National Honor Society. Sports being a key passion of her life, you can always find Ria being active. For example, she travels across the United States to play competitive volleyball with her teammates at Mountain View Volleyball Club. ria.maheshwari@ourtimetoact.org

Aarohan (he/him/his) is a Housing Justice Director of Enacting Social Housing at Our Time To Act. He is a sophomore at University of California, San Diego, and is majoring in Political Science. He has been involved in the legal field and community service projects. He is looking forward to helping his community and pushing Our Time To Act towards its goals. He is enthusiastic about soccer and is a cinephile. He is considering minoring in theatre and still has not made a decision. < Back Aarohan Hariharan Housing Justice Director Aarohan (he/him/his) is a Housing Justice Director of Enacting Social Housing at Our Time To Act. He is a sophomore at University of California, San Diego, and is majoring in Political Science. He has been involved in the legal field and community service projects. He is looking forward to helping his community and pushing Our Time To Act towards its goals. He is enthusiastic about soccer and is a cinephile. He is considering minoring in theatre and still has not made a decision. aarohan.hariharan@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Community Organizer (Midway/Clairemont) Paid San Diego APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before March 1st, 2022. ABOUT THE ROLE As a member of the advocacy team, the community organizer for Midway/Clairemont will be responsible for mobilizing youth (15-24) to advocate for affordable housing and accessible transportation in San Diego. REQUIREMENTS Position Responsibilities: Collaborate with the Director of Advocacy to coordinate grassroots housing advocacy Potential responsibilities include: Mobilizing youth through social media/outreach campaigns Formulating outreach strategies with the outreach team Fostering relationships and networks with student organizations in the Midway/Clairemont area Attend staff meetings Additional duties as assigned. Experience & Education: High school diploma required. Current undergraduate students are preferred. Previous experience in advocacy work preferred. Hourly Commitment: Average 8 hours per week Compensation $17.30 per hour ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION As a 501(c)(3) youth empowerment nonprofit, OTTA United is dedicated to building youth power (aged 15-24) in areas predominantly occupied by adults to benefit the community as a whole. OTTA United values authenticity and passion. We play the role of coalition builders and mentors within our communities, sharing knowledge, resources, credit, and impact. And as a justice-oriented, impact-driven, and people-centered organization, our perspective grounds us with who we serve and the work we do while advancing our mission. APPLY

< Back to Open Positions Local Leaders Program Manager Volunteer South Bay Area APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE Program Managers oversee the establishment of our Local Leaders program across various schools in the South Bay Area. Responsibilities include conducting site research to determine if the Local Leaders program is a good fit for it, securing funding sources, recruiting site coordinators, and developing the Local Leaders curriculum. REQUIREMENTS No prior experience required. Demonstrates adequate research and planning skills. 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 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

< Back Aashika Srinivas, Policy Analyst, presents redistricting reform research to SD City Council Wednesday, April 20, 2022 Leana Cortez, Director of Advocacy If one were to describe the 2020-2021 San Diego Redistricting process, “equitable” would scarcely be used. The current structure of the process enforces the power of wealthy, single-family homeowners while leaving San Diego’s youth and BIPOC communities vastly underrepresented. As youth ourselves, OTTA United endeavored to disrupt this structure and begin our research for reform. These measures included: Changing the appointing authority. Partial district detachment. Implementation of a two-part selection process. These proposed changes would simply bring San Diego’s City redistricting process up to par with our neighboring cities and the state. Aashika Srinivas, policy analyst at OTTA United, brought these reform suggestions to the San Diego City Council Rules Committee on April 20th, 2022. She did a wonderful job presenting during non-agenda public comment and caught the attention of two councilmembers. Councilmember Chris Cate commented that he was "encouraged by some of [Aashika's] ideas." Council President Sean Elo-Rivera was "intrigued by the presentation," "appreciate[d] the level of civic engagement of the youth who presented," and thanked us for "having engaged in the redistricting process." With this encouragement, OTTA United will continue to meet with councilmembers to figure out the further development and implementation of such reforms to ensure just representation occurs for the diverse city of San Diego. Next Previous

Irene Wu (she/her/hers) is a senior at San Marcos High School and fascinated with the intersection of youth activism and social media. She is active in API youth activism as the SD API Youth Network Co-Chair and is excited to be furthering Our Time To Act’s goals for empowered and passionate youth. Outside of OTTA, Irene adores reading and art, and is always looking for new book/movie/podcast recommendations. < Back Irene Wu Social Media Coordinator Irene Wu (she/her/hers) is a senior at San Marcos High School and fascinated with the intersection of youth activism and social media. She is active in API youth activism as the SD API Youth Network Co-Chair and is excited to be furthering Our Time To Act’s goals for empowered and passionate youth. Outside of OTTA, Irene adores reading and art, and is always looking for new book/movie/podcast recommendations. irene.wu@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions CYAN Lead Organizer Volunteer San Diego, CA, USA APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before March 31st, 2024. ABOUT THE ROLE THE ROLE We are looking for a CYAN Lead Organizer (0.75 FTE). The Lead Organizer reports to the Executive Director and works in close partnership with the Director of Housing Justice, the Housing Justice Team, and the Engagement Team. The Lead Organizer will develop our flagship program—the Civic Youth Action Network (CYAN)—by working with the CYAN leadership team to accomplish CYAN-related membership and organizing objectives. This position will also support the housing justice organizing and research work led by the Housing Justice Team. JOB DESCRIPTION Key responsibilities include to: This role is empowered to plan, launch, and execute organizing events that draw youth and youth allies into our youth organizing (CYAN) and housing work Build people power by building relationships with youth, including individuals, youth-led organizations, and youth-serving organizations and institutions Manage volunteers that are essential to building capacity for organizing and direct action Develop the leadership capacity of CYAN leaders and members, aiding the planning and execution of the CYAN Conference and monthly events Assist in research-related projects, including the Youth Housing Safety Net which identifies how youth fall into homelessness and are failed by the system and the history & impacts of exclusionary single-family zoning Become a clear and powerful voice for organizing and the principles thereof inside and outside of the organization This is the dream job for someone passionate about organizing people to disrupt the status quo; lifting up marginalized voices, including youth; working directly with individuals and groups with diverse identities, lived experiences, and perspectives; and engaging youth and the community to build long-lasting power and a brighter future. We are looking for someone who: Has strong organizational and time management skills Has the ability to work both independently and as part of a team Has a desire to learn organizing skills and expand youth power in San Diego Is passionate about our mission REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Previous organizing experience or related work experience is preferred, with priority given to individuals with experience organizing youth or for youth-related issues. A high school diploma is preferred, although not required if a candidate has exemplary youth organizing experience. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION WORK MODALITY & LOCATION The work modality of this role is either hybrid or remote. Work is welcome in person at OTTA United’s office, 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 monetary 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 Hands-on experience with Quickbooks and resources to foster exploration Letters of recommendation Certified Volunteer Hours, if requested A tight-knit team and community of fellow change-makers 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