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Oliver has lived in Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles but considers the Bay Area home. He is a Stanford and Harvard trained clinical psychologist and has returned to Stanford University to serve as Operations Director at Counseling and Psychological Services, teach courses in Asian American Studies, supervise the next generation of psychologists, and provide outreach workshops and trainings. Oliver is humbled to serve on the Board of Our Time To Act and truly inspired to see the youth make such a meaningful impact in their local communities. < Back Oliver Lin Treasurer Oliver has lived in Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles but considers the Bay Area home. He is a Stanford and Harvard trained clinical psychologist and has returned to Stanford University to serve as Operations Director at Counseling and Psychological Services, teach courses in Asian American Studies, supervise the next generation of psychologists, and provide outreach workshops and trainings. Oliver is humbled to serve on the Board of Our Time To Act and truly inspired to see the youth make such a meaningful impact in their local communities. oliver.lin@ourtimetoact.org

< Back OTTA United celebrates three new board directors, two youth and one youth ally Sunday, October 9, 2022 Our Time to Act United After confirmation at our October 9th Board Meeting, OTTA United is honored to welcome three new volunteers to our Board of Directors: Leana Cortez, Former OTTA United Advocacy Director & Clean4Kids Board Member Abbey Reuter , Former OTTA United Advocacy Director & current Community Representative for County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher Scott Warren , Co-founder and former CEO of Generation Citizen & current Youth Civic/Political Engagement and Leadership Specialist at USAID These individuals bring incredible lived experiences, unique perspectives, and the right mindset to our organization. Together, with their diversity and skills, we are better equipped to tackle our mission to "organize powerful youth for an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future." Next Previous

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 OP-ED: The San Diego redistricting process protected the status quo. We need change Monday, December 13, 2021 Aidan Lin, Executive Director For the past few months, students of UC San Diego have made a historic push to move council districts in the City of San Diego's 2020-21 redistricting process. They have shared their perspective, in actions ranging from digital submissions of maps to vocal public comments in hour-long meetings. Throughout the process as a student and leader myself, I've witnessed and experienced firsthand the disregard, apathy, and sometimes malice directed toward my peers for sharing their perspectives. For some, it emboldens them to speak up louder. But for others, it disincentivizes them from participating in the first place. Many groups of diverse individuals share this experience in the city. Often, the voices of wealthy, single-family homeowners prevail in systems designed to cater to their participation; not to mention the fact that many youths are BIPOC and from underrepresented communities. This is the status quo in San Diego, and it requires an enormous amount of momentum to overcome. As I highlight in my opinion piece for the Voice of San Diego , this came into play in very tangible ways: Instead of a new persons of color majority district consisting of Clairemont, Linda Vista, and Serra Mesa, the commission voted to maintain the status quo by giving the coastal region two districts. By splitting our campus, they diluted student voting power and reduced the likelihood of our needs being taken seriously. Their adopted map also lowered Asian American and Pacific Islander percentages in District 6 and Latino/a percentages in District 9, relative to the collaboration map they rejected. We must take action to dismantle the system that prevent real, important change from occurring. Three reform ideas that we proposed included: Detach the appointments from specific City Council seats. Many independent redistricting commissions do not tie commissioners to existing seats, including the county and state. Rather than ensuring geographic representation, this pushed commissioners to defend their personal districts as if they were elected politicians and resist any changes to the status quo. Change the Appointing Authority. Retired judges may sound like a good idea, but a system with selection bias toward older people and attorneys has generated major negative repercussions for communities of color. We need an appointment authority that is both independent and representative of the community and its values. Require representation on the commission. We will never achieve districts that reflect local communities unless the commissioners drawing them also reflect the community. New requirements should be added to ensure renters, students, and Black, indigenous and people of color are adequately represented on the commission itself. As we call for reform, we ask for your support. Join our newsletter to stay in the loop and reach out if you are inspired to get involved. voiceofsandiego.org The Redistricting Process Favored the Status Quo, Again. That Needs to Change. These commissioners simply do not reflect the diversity of San Diego, nor the experiences of most residents, and repeatedly proved themselves incapable of putting aside their own biases for the good of the city. Next Previous

< 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

< 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

Alondra Herrera (She/Her) is a MiraCosta Alumni from Oceanside, CA. She is a transfer student at the University of California, San Diego majoring in Urban Studies and Planning with a minor in Political Science- Data Analytics. Alondra's focus is homelessness in San Diego as well as supporting the low income and underrepresented population. < Back Alondra Herrera Housing Justice Organizer Alondra Herrera (She/Her) is a MiraCosta Alumni from Oceanside, CA. She is a transfer student at the University of California, San Diego majoring in Urban Studies and Planning with a minor in Political Science- Data Analytics. Alondra's focus is homelessness in San Diego as well as supporting the low income and underrepresented population. alondra.herrera@ourtimetoact.org

< Back to Open Positions Lead Editor Volunteer South Bay Area, San Diego, and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Lead Editor is in charge of Our Time to Act United's newsletter, website content, articles, and reporting. They compile internal information to create communiqués, document interesting instances of youth action or areas of youth need, and share this information through social media, news organizations, and on our website. REQUIREMENTS Prior experience preferred. Must be demonstrate ability to engage others through writing. 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

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

Holly (she/they) is a dedicated Vietnamese-American educator, project manager, and organizer born and raised in Eastside San Jose. Currently, Holly is Chief of Staff at Sustainable & Just Future, expanding solution-based environmental curriculum around the United States. Their work focuses on intersectional environmental justice, youth empowerment, and international climate policy. Their unique background in the legal industry, non-profit sector, creative storytelling, and climate education have strengthened their dedication to serving communities disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. Holly believes it’s imperative that movements that center human rights and dignity must work together to create a more equitable and harmonious future. < Back Holly Harwood Board Director Holly (she/they) is a dedicated Vietnamese-American educator, project manager, and organizer born and raised in Eastside San Jose. Currently, Holly is Chief of Staff at Sustainable & Just Future, expanding solution-based environmental curriculum around the United States. Their work focuses on intersectional environmental justice, youth empowerment, and international climate policy. Their unique background in the legal industry, non-profit sector, creative storytelling, and climate education have strengthened their dedication to serving communities disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. Holly believes it’s imperative that movements that center human rights and dignity must work together to create a more equitable and harmonious future. holly.harwood@ourtimetoact.org

Faith is an Accountant at Our Time To Act and a student at UC Davis. She is a junior majoring in Managerial Economics and minoring in Accounting. In addition to her position at Our Time To Act, she works an on-campus job at UC Davis and is the Professional Relations Director of the Davis Accounting Society (DAS). On her free time, Faith enjoys watching YouTube and playing video games with her friends. Some of her favorite games are Valorant, Phasmophobia, Cave Crawlers, and Minecraft. < Back Faith Xiong Accountant Faith is an Accountant at Our Time To Act and a student at UC Davis. She is a junior majoring in Managerial Economics and minoring in Accounting. In addition to her position at Our Time To Act, she works an on-campus job at UC Davis and is the Professional Relations Director of the Davis Accounting Society (DAS). On her free time, Faith enjoys watching YouTube and playing video games with her friends. Some of her favorite games are Valorant, Phasmophobia, Cave Crawlers, and Minecraft. faith.xiong@ourtimetoact.org

Janice is a current student at the University of California, Irvine studying Public Health Policy. Her primary mission in life is to fight for equity, particularly in the field of health and wellness. Janice initially became involved with Our Time To Act's pandemic response as the Student Response Initiative Regional Director of Health. As the former Executive Director for Students Against Period Poverty, she now works as a Senior Advisor for the nonprofit she co-founded, partnering with schools and shelters to make menstrual products accessible. She also works to educate people at community health fairs, reaching underserved populations through a combination of activism and volunteerism. < Back Janice Park Board Director Janice is a current student at the University of California, Irvine studying Public Health Policy. Her primary mission in life is to fight for equity, particularly in the field of health and wellness. Janice initially became involved with Our Time To Act's pandemic response as the Student Response Initiative Regional Director of Health. As the former Executive Director for Students Against Period Poverty, she now works as a Senior Advisor for the nonprofit she co-founded, partnering with schools and shelters to make menstrual products accessible. She also works to educate people at community health fairs, reaching underserved populations through a combination of activism and volunteerism. janice.park@ourtimetoact.org