< Back OP-ED: Students are making waves in redistricting. San Diego should listen Tuesday, November 2, 2021 Aidan Lin, Executive Director Students are the future of San Diego. So why does redistricting overlook them? Everyone has heard of the phrase "youth are the future," and it is frequently accompanied by the sentiment that leaders should hold the interests of youth at heart when making decisions. But, as I write in my opinion piece with the San Diego Union-Tribune , when students began to get involved with the City of San Diego's 2020-21 redistricting process, students were not treated as such: At the recent redistricting hearing, Commissioner Fred Kosmo said , “I’m impressed with the college students and their enthusiasm, but a lot of people who have families and jobs — they came out, too. ... You can’t always get what you want, but you get what you need.” This tone-deaf statement implies that students are not employed or do not have families to support — and that affordable housing is not a basic need. Instead, the commission has demonstrated a preference for wealthy, single-family homeowners. Yet [student] voices have been drowned out at redistricting commission hearings. After dozens of students spoke out in special hearings for Districts 1 and 6, organized political insiders in La Jolla, including former council President Sherri Lightner, responded to our concerns by rallying to preserve the status quo exactly as it stands ... To date, the majority of commissioners have demonstrated far more concern for the feelings of these La Jollans than any other community. It is clear that students are not being treated as the stakeholders of the future––or even as community members––that they are often ascribed to be. San Diego Redistricting Commission, take note: students are far from done fighting. www.sandiegouniontribune.com Opinion: The redistricting process is ignoring the needs of UC San Diego students I have seen how my UC San Diego peers are ignored and viewed condescendingly. Next Previous

< 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

< Back to Open Positions Advocate Academy Program Manager Volunteer South Bay Area APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE Program Managers for the Advocate Academy support the Advocate Academy. This role is tasked with further developing our academy's curriculum, marketing this opportunity to potential participants, securing speakers and guest teachers, and directly teaching classes to equip youth with the skills they need to become effective advocates. REQUIREMENTS No prior experience required. Demonstrates ability to teach educational material. 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

Yvania Rubio (she/her/ella) is a Political Science and Sociology student with a minor in Business at The University of California of San Diego. Raised in Tijuana, Ensenada, Los Angeles, and Southeast San Diego, she currently resides in La Jolla for her undergraduate studies. Ms. Rubio participates in youth empowerment and professional development through her positions as a Youth Commissioner for the city of San Diego, San Diego County Youth Sector leader, community volunteer through Youth Will nonprofit, as well as the Assistant Project Director for the Youth Voter Engagement Project with Our Time To Act. Ms. Rubio has also acquired a position as a paid intern position under the tutelage of a District Attorney with the Superior Court of San Diego County. Through which Ms. Rubio had the opportunity to observe judicial, criminal, and juvenile proceeding, her initiatives are driven with the intent of providing opportunities for youth to explore their strengths and tailor them to improve society in their own authentic way. Ms. Rubio also wishes to help youth like herself learn how to converse with people who have differing opinions and reach constructive consensus. < Back Yvania Rubio Director of Organizing Yvania Rubio (she/her/ella) is a Political Science and Sociology student with a minor in Business at The University of California of San Diego. Raised in Tijuana, Ensenada, Los Angeles, and Southeast San Diego, she currently resides in La Jolla for her undergraduate studies. Ms. Rubio participates in youth empowerment and professional development through her positions as a Youth Commissioner for the city of San Diego, San Diego County Youth Sector leader, community volunteer through Youth Will nonprofit, as well as the Assistant Project Director for the Youth Voter Engagement Project with Our Time To Act. Ms. Rubio has also acquired a position as a paid intern position under the tutelage of a District Attorney with the Superior Court of San Diego County. Through which Ms. Rubio had the opportunity to observe judicial, criminal, and juvenile proceeding, her initiatives are driven with the intent of providing opportunities for youth to explore their strengths and tailor them to improve society in their own authentic way. Ms. Rubio also wishes to help youth like herself learn how to converse with people who have differing opinions and reach constructive consensus. yvania.rubio@ourtimetoact.org

< Back For Our Time to Act United, 2021 was a year of incredible action and growth Monday, January 3, 2022 Aidan Lin, Executive Director Next Previous

< Back to Open Positions Assistant Director of Outreach Volunteer South Bay Area APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Assistant Director of Outreach is responsible for the continued growth of our organization's network. They are key to forming and retaining good relationships with external people, serving as the primary figure reaching out to new supporters and youth by interfacing with the Graphic Designer, Social Media Manager, and Lead Editor. REQUIREMENTS Prior relevant experience preferred. Demonstrates ability to connect others to our mission and foster interpersonal relations. Exemplifies strong leadership qualities. High school student or beyond. 8-10 hours, 2-3 meetings a week. Our scheduling is highly flexible. Values cooperation, creativity, growth-mindset. Exhibits organization, diligence, and dedication. Passion for youth empowerment. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION While pursuing our mission of youth empowerment, Our Time to Act United understands the importance of fostering a safe, welcoming, and positive environment for all. As such, the actions we take align with our values as an organization and as individuals. We value meaningful impact. We always seek to genuinely support those that we serve and the people within our organization. We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse group of people. These values are reflected in our hiring practices, decision-making, and programs. Our team and organization is growth-minded and development-focused. We always have room to improve! Our organization promotes honesty, communication, and integrity. These values allow for us to be a cooperative, productive, and effective team. We praise creativity and ingenuity. Nothing is more exciting than thinking outside of the box or challenging the status quo. Applications are a two-way street. We make our values as an organization clear to you in order to make sure our team is the right fit—and we hope we are! Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions regarding our organization, values, workplace environment, or the application process. APPLY

Gabrielle Darisme is a freshman at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. Although undecided on her major, she strives to pursue an interdisciplinary focus and is interested in environmental science, biology, public health, and international policy. Gabrielle is an avid world traveler and has completed internships in Belize, Costa Rica, and South Africa. She has been a dedicated member of the Our Time To Act family since her Junior Year of High School. Outside of school, she has received serval Future Business Leader of America (FBLA) Awards, a Presidential Volunteer Award, hosted a TEDx conference, and has had artwork exhibited in the San Jose Museum of Art. < Back Gabrielle Darisme Vice President, Governance Gabrielle Darisme is a freshman at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. Although undecided on her major, she strives to pursue an interdisciplinary focus and is interested in environmental science, biology, public health, and international policy. Gabrielle is an avid world traveler and has completed internships in Belize, Costa Rica, and South Africa. She has been a dedicated member of the Our Time To Act family since her Junior Year of High School. Outside of school, she has received serval Future Business Leader of America (FBLA) Awards, a Presidential Volunteer Award, hosted a TEDx conference, and has had artwork exhibited in the San Jose Museum of Art. gabrielle.darisme@ourtimetoact.org

< Back OTTA United Completes Youth Activation & Workplace Motivation Workshop Series with Catalyst Saturday, June 10, 2023 Our Time to Act United MEDIA CONTACT: Mariya Grabovska, Press Intern ( mariya.grabovska@ottaunited.org ) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OTTA United is proud to announce the successful completion of its Youth Activation & Workplace Motivation Workshop Series with Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties. This two-part series, conducted in collaboration with the California Department of Social Services as part of the Stop the Hate grant, focused on addressing the challenges of "activating" and "motivating" youth in diverse settings. Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties is a community of funders dedicated to investing in social change work. The Stop the Hate grant, a partnership with the California Department of Social Services, aims to support organizations facing difficulties in engaging and motivating youth across diverse contexts, including service, activism, and the workplace. The primary objective was to enhance understanding of the youth perspective, improve intergenerational workplace relations, and provide practical frameworks for incorporating youth into organizational activities. The first workshop, titled "How Youth See Themselves, and How the World Sees Them" was a tremendous success. It was facilitated by Nicole Lillie, Director of Housing Justice, who skillfully guided a diverse group of nonprofit leaders through a dynamic program. Participants were encouraged to examine their preconceptions and biases about both young and older individuals, inspiring rich discussions and insights. Key takeaways from Workshop 1 included valuable tips for optimizing youth outreach, all framed from the youth's perspective. The engaging format and thoughtful content left participants better equipped to bridge generational divides and activate youth engagement effectively. In Workshop 2, "Models for Motivation: Radical Candor in an Intergenerational Workplace" Aidan Lin, Executive Director, led attendees through an exploration of Radical Candor framework as a motivational tool. Radical Candor can be summarized by caring personally about the team, not shying away from being direct of giving feedback, and seeking feedback when necessary. This session emphasized the importance of vulnerability in the workplace and provided participants with a practical understanding of how to employ Radical Candor effectively. An interactive activity allowed participants to practice giving feedback using the Radical Candor model, enhancing their communication skills and fostering a culture of openness and constructive dialogue. Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties extends its sincere gratitude to Aidan Lin, Nicole Lillie, and all participants who contributed to the success of these workshops. The organization remains committed to fostering generational understanding and empowerment. Next Previous

Ellie (she/her/hers) is the CYAN Lead Organizer at Our Time To Act. As CYAN Lead Organizer, Ellie works to build people power by building relationships with youth, including individuals, youth-led organizations, and youth-serving organizations and institutions. With a background in psychology from the University of California, San Diego, she is an incoming doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium. Ellie is driven to create positive alterations in mental health accessibility through systemic changes. Outside of work, Ellie loves to spend quality time with people she loves, cooking, painting, being out in nature, and playing basketball. < Back Ellie Wang CYAN Advisor Ellie (she/her/hers) is the CYAN Lead Organizer at Our Time To Act. As CYAN Lead Organizer, Ellie works to build people power by building relationships with youth, including individuals, youth-led organizations, and youth-serving organizations and institutions. With a background in psychology from the University of California, San Diego, she is an incoming doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium. Ellie is driven to create positive alterations in mental health accessibility through systemic changes. Outside of work, Ellie loves to spend quality time with people she loves, cooking, painting, being out in nature, and playing basketball. ellie.wang@ourtimetoact.org

< Back OTTA United & students play a major role in successful push for more housing in San Diego Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Our Time to Act United Yesterday, February 14th, 2023, Our Time to Act (OTTA) United and students successfully pushed San Diego City Council to adopt Sustainable Development Areas (SDAs). This new policy, replacing Transit Priority Areas, would open 5,224 acres of land to the potential for higher-density development programs. This change is essential to ensuring the future of housing, affordability, and sustainability for youth and students in San Diego. OTTA United tabled on UC San Diego’s campus, speaking to nearly 100 students and having meaningful conversations about how the housing crisis has impacted students’ lives. From these valuable conversations, OTTA United collected over a dozen personal testimonials and comments which were submitted to the City. At noon on February 14th, 2023, students met together at the UC San Diego Central Campus Station and embarked on the 30-minute trip via the Blue Line Trolley to deliver their thoughts to our City Council in person. In addition to written and in-person testimony, OTTA United was the only pro-housing group to deliver a planned presentation. Nicole Lillie, Housing Projects Director, and Aidan Lin, Executive Director, detailed specific student-related arguments in favor of SDAs and dismantled opposing arguments. The presentation concluded with slides highlighting some of the comments from students who could not share their concerns in person. OTTA United – Sustainable Development Areas (final) .pdf Download PDF • 17.16MB Before voting on the motion, students received special recognition from Councilmember Kent Lee (District 6): “I do want to take a moment to applaud the diverse young speakers for taking time out of their busy school and work schedules to help us understand why this might matter. These decisions will take many years to meaningfully change the city, and we need to plan and build for San Diego both for today, and for the generations of San Diegans to come. My fight has been and always will be to ensure that all San Diegans, now and into the future, have the opportunity to live, work, and play in San Diego.” Students were also highlighted by Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, “We are planning not for the city that we have today, or the city that we wish we had 20 years ago, but the city that we want—which is a city, as Councilmember Lee put it, where everyone has an opportunity to live here. Not just folks that live here today, but [also] the young people that are growing up here, the students who spoke so passionately today—we have to create housing opportunities for them. Those folks exist today, and they matter today, and we have to do something to ensure they will have an opportunity to live here and thrive here.” For OTTA United’s efforts, students were featured in local news coverage of the adoption of this policy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECQsNV_p0Tg This case shows how students and youth have the power to make a difference on issues that matter. It is absolutely necessary for students to get involved with the issue of housing—because of the long-term nature of solutions—and OTTA United looks forward to continuing to engage students as decision-makers to forge a brighter future. To take action or learn more, please contact Nicole Lillie, Housing Projects Director, at nicole.lillie@ottaunited.org . Next Previous

< Back Aidan Lin and OTTA United featured in State of the City Speech by SD Mayor Gloria Wednesday, January 11, 2023 Our Time to Act United On January 11th, 2023, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria held his first in-person and third ever State of the City Address. The Mayor declared the city to be ‘rising’ to meet prevalent challenges and that “our best days lie ahead.” His address focused on infrastructure, public safety, homelessness, and housing. It was during his segment on housing where Mayor Gloria spotlighted the work of Aidan Lin, Executive Director of Our Time to Act United, with youth and students in housing solutions. “Aidan is a 20-year-old student at UC San Diego. He currently has a 3.9 GPA, and while in high school, he founded a non-profit known as ‘ Our Time to Act United ,’ which works to empower young people.” The Mayor continued, “He’s already deeply involved in the civic life of our city – advocating for the Asian Pacific Islander community, shaping City Council Districts, and enthusiastically pushing for more housing and transit options.” Last year, OTTA United took on several advocacy projects — specifically focusing on the area surrounding UC San Diego — to promote increased housing stock, transit options, and building density to combat the worsening housing and climate crises. Students mobilized by OTTA United showed up in support of much-needed community planning group reform and density in the University Community Plan Update . Shortly after highlighting Mr. Lin, Mayor Gloria outlined the actions the city has taken to build more homes. This includes signing an executive order that directs all city staff to complete reviews and approvals of 100-percent affordable housing projects within 30 days, a process that currently takes up to six months. OTTA United looks forward to continuing its housing organizing and advocacy efforts in 2023 and greatly appreciates the acknowledgment of youth and youth leaders in the struggle for affordable housing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKLiZtqN7bA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyslaH1kgGU Next Previous

Leana Cortez (she/her/hers) is a UC San Diego student studying Global Health and Sociocultural Anthropology. After beginning her activism journey in high school, Leana understands the need for youth power in the sociopolitical sphere. After spending years in the environmental advocacy realm, Leana joined Our Time To Act in October 2021 as Director of Advocacy. As Director, Leana has mobilized many youth for initiatives and projects relating to affordable housing, voting and civic engagement, and redistricting efforts. She has also worked alongside OTTA’s policy analyst, Aashika, to develop redistricting reform policy for the City of San Diego, which received high praise from city councilmembers. She now serves on OTTA's Board of Directors. Beyond her work in OTTA, Leana has aided in research relating to adolescent mental health with the Center for Global Mental Health, stem cell signaling with the Reya Lab at UCSD, and invasive plant species with a local nonprofit in San Diego. Leana hopes to pursue a PhD in Global Health and Medical Anthropology post-graduation. < Back Leana Cortez Board Director Leana Cortez (she/her/hers) is a UC San Diego student studying Global Health and Sociocultural Anthropology. After beginning her activism journey in high school, Leana understands the need for youth power in the sociopolitical sphere. After spending years in the environmental advocacy realm, Leana joined Our Time To Act in October 2021 as Director of Advocacy. As Director, Leana has mobilized many youth for initiatives and projects relating to affordable housing, voting and civic engagement, and redistricting efforts. She has also worked alongside OTTA’s policy analyst, Aashika, to develop redistricting reform policy for the City of San Diego, which received high praise from city councilmembers. She now serves on OTTA's Board of Directors. Beyond her work in OTTA, Leana has aided in research relating to adolescent mental health with the Center for Global Mental Health, stem cell signaling with the Reya Lab at UCSD, and invasive plant species with a local nonprofit in San Diego. Leana hopes to pursue a PhD in Global Health and Medical Anthropology post-graduation. leana.cortez@ourtimetoact.org