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< Back to Open Positions Grant Writer Volunteer South Bay Area, San Diego, and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE Our Grant Writers aim to fund our programs by writing compelling grants. They strive to condense our mission, goals, and achievements into an inspirational piece that organizations will resonate with and thus grant funding for. REQUIREMENTS No prior experience required. Must demonstrate the ability to write a compelling narrative. 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 Announcing our new name: Our Time To Act Monday, March 4, 2024 Our Time To Act On Sunday, March 3, 2024, we proudly announced our new name: Our Time To Act . Why the change? The name reflects an intentional strategic shift. For the past few years, we have focused on putting ourselves on the map, building a network, and fostering an incredible community of youth and youth allies. With these foundations in place, it’s our time to take the next step toward bold collective action . While unity is still important to us and our mission, it’s now time for our name to communicate our highest priority focus: organizing youth to take ambitious action on the housing crisis. Our new name also brings a breath of clarity—it’s shorter and easier to remember. Why the housing crisis? Housing is a human right. Having a home is fundamental to survival and is grounded in basic rights and social justice issues. Suburban sprawl and lack of affordable, available housing dramatically contribute to houselessness. Low-density, exclusionary housing and slow production of new units exacerbate poverty, enforce race- and class-based segregation, and further reliance on cars that contribute to unsustainable living. Youth are in a state of perpetual housing crisis, forced to answer the question: where are we going to live today, tomorrow, and in 30 years? Housing justice is how we will tackle building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all youth. How are we working toward housing justice? Thanks to our Director of Housing Justice, Nicole Lillie, and our dedicated Housing Justice Organizers Aarohan Hariharan, Arianna Alvarado, Diego Washington, and Masaki Mendoza, we’ve engaged hundreds of students and renters on housing justice, passing policies like Sustainable Development Areas in San Diego. Furthermore, we launched our Civic Youth Action Network (CYAN) . CYAN fosters youth-led grassroots organizing by providing a space for youth to co-create solutions to the housing crisis in our local communities. Since January, we’ve held seven meetings and engaged 30+ youth in community-building and organizing. What’s next? To announce and celebrate this new beginning, we invite you to re-engage with our cause. Signing up for our newsletter , becoming a member of CYAN , or making a donation are all great ways to join us for the ride. Now, more than ever, is our time to act. Next Previous

< Back to Open Positions Advisory Services Event Coordinator Volunteer South Bay Area and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE Event Coordinators for Advisory Services run informational workshops designed to enhance the organizational and leadership skills of youth, offering them new methods and ideas for their own groups and organizations. Specific work includes creating an event plan, calculating event expenses, communicating with event personnel, and facilitating event execution and wrap up. REQUIREMENTS No prior experience required. Demonstrates proficient forethought 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 Activating Youth: Catalyst Leadership Second Workshop Tuesday, August 22, 2023 Our Time to Act United MEDIA CONTACT: Mariya Grabovska, Press Intern ( mariya.grabovska@ottaunited.org ) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: In a transformative Activating Youth: Catalyst Leadership Workshop held on August 22, 2023, OTTA United unveiled a powerful model that explores the dynamics of leadership and connection, led by Aidan Lin, Executive Director, and Yvania Rubio, a former director at OTTA United. The workshop, hosted by Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, brought together a diverse group of individuals eager to enhance their leadership skills and create meaningful connections. At the workshop's core was the innovative Activation model, dissected into two essential components: "Motivation" and "Foundation." From Motivation stems the crucial elements of holding accountability and inspiring action, while Foundation provides the building blocks of building rapport and showing vulnerability. This unique model demonstrates the inherent capacity of "Activation" to foster genuine connections. The event witnessed a remarkable crowd overlap between the two workshop days, indicating that participants not only found value in the initial session but were compelled to return for a deeper dive into the model's principles. We were very excited to see some familiar faces and meet more individuals interested in what OTTA offers. "We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Catalyst of San Diego, the organizers of this event, for recognizing and supporting the strength of our youth organization," said Aidan Lin. Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties commitment to empowering youth aligns seamlessly with our mission, and we applaud them for championing the cause. The first workshop, held on June 10, 2023, set the stage for the August event, and OTTA is thrilled to see the continued interest and enthusiasm from the community. Looking towards the future, OTTA is excited about delivering more training programs that serve and empower youth and youth organizations. While expressing gratitude to Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, OTTA United looks forward to collaborating with various partners to expand its impact and reach. "OTTA United is committed to creating a lasting impact on the lives of youth, and we hope to replicate the success of this workshop in the near future," added Aidan Lin. Next Previous

< Back to Open Positions Administrative Interns (Quarter 3, Jul-Sep) Intern (Volunteer) San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Applications are due on June 16th. ABOUT THE ROLE The main role of the Administrative Intern is to learn and improve how work is completed efficiently and effectively at OTTA United. Administrative Interns are encouraged to adopt both a system-wide and individual approach to problem-solving and are assigned to a specific Director to support their work. We seek applicants who are passionate, solutions-oriented, and excited to dive into specific areas of work at OTTA United. TERM & PROCESS Q3 Administrative Interns are accepted for work between July 1st and September 30th. Administrative Interns may apply for multiple repeating terms. In July, Administrative Interns are introduced to OTTA United, staff members, and their fellow intern cohort. Interns are assigned to shadow and assist a specific Director depending on need and intern preference. By the end of July, interns will begin to formulate an Individual Impact Project (IIP) that serves as a guide for applied learning throughout the course of the term. At the beginning of August, interns will pitch their IIPs and begin work. They will meet weekly with their assigned Director and occasionally with the entire intern cohort. Along the way, interns will assist Directors with administrative tasks that provide experience and insight into the inner workings of a nonprofit. This will continue until mid-September when IIPs come to a close. Interns will give concluding presentations on their work and reflect on what they learned. Interns may also apply for an extension to continue their IIPs into the next term. INDIVIDUAL IMPACT PROJECT (IIP) GUIDELINES IIPs aim to improve the management of the nonprofit in order to maximize operational efficiency, program efficacy (impact), team cohesion, or the general advancement of OTTA United's mission. Interns are encouraged to design IIPs to improve the specific skills that best support their personal or professional development. One component of IIPs is a 1:1 conversation with a relevant subject field expert, which offers valuable growth opportunities for interns. Interns are encouraged to be creative and ambitious with their IIPs! OTTA United will support you in your quest for knowledge and growth. REQUIREMENTS EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE All youth (15-24) are encouraged to apply, regardless of education and experience level. WORK MODALITY & LOCATION The work modality of this role is either hybrid or remote. Work is welcome in person at OTTA United’s office is located in San Diego, California (3252 Holiday Court Ste 103, San Diego, CA 92037), but it is not required. PAY & BENEFITS This position is on a volunteer basis. There is no compensation for this position at this time. OTTA United deeply values the potential for personal and career development and strives to uplift its team members to best position them for their bright futures. Non-monetary benefits include: Tailored work experience and growth to fit your desired career path Networking opportunities with community nonprofits, policymakers, elected officials, and companies Letters of recommendation Certified Volunteer Hours, if requested A tight-knit team and community of fellow change-makers An emphasis on connecting you to future jobs, either at OTTA United or within the community EXPECTED HOURS & FLEXIBILITY Interns are required to work at least 5 hours per week but are not expected or required to work more than 10 hours per week. Interns are allowed to work more if they so choose. Many staff members and interns are also students, so our work environment is as flexible as possible. Certain responsibilities, such as staff meetings, are fixed. Other obligations can be flexible around your schedule. 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 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 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

HOUSING ACTION PACKAGE 2.0 WHAT IS THE HOUSING ACTION PACKAGE 2.0? San Diego’s Housing Action Package 2.0 (HAP 2.0) is a package of actions and policies that, if adopted, will boost the production of housing, especially affordable housing, in the city . Some of these policies include density bonuses, incentivizing the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in more areas of the city, and incentivizing more off-campus student housing to be built. Most HAP 2.0 policies are geared towards allowing more housing in “transit-rich areas,” such as near trolley stops and bus stations with high-frequency buses. Encouraging more housing near transit allows us to fight the housing crisis while simultaneously promoting a more environmentally sustainable city. WHAT WAS HAP 1.0? HAP 1.0 was a similar package of housing policies passed in February 2022 . It laid the groundwork for much of HAP 2.0, and also had to do with the implementation of actions and policies meant to combat the systemic effects of the housing and environmental crisis. For example, HAP 1.0’s implementation of Senate Bill 9 to allow for ADUs on single-family plots of land was a major step forward in pro-housing action for San Diego. WHY DO WE NEED HAP 2.0? Though HAP 1.0 was a vital first step for San Diego in addressing its housing crisis, there is certainly more work to be done. Currently, San Diego County is estimated to need more than 21,000 new homes per year just to keep up with demand. However, in 2021, only 9,642 were constructed , demonstrating the need for further policy implementation to solve the housing crisis. Policies such as those included in HAP 2.0 would bring us closer to meeting our housing targets. WHY IS MEETING THESE GOALS SO IMPORTANT? San Diego is a desirable city to live in. We must build enough housing to accommodate current and prospective residents. Every day, more people are competing for increasingly scarce housing, which drives up the cost for everybody. Economic research shows cities and communities that allow more housing see lower increases in their housing costs compared to cities that do not allow enough housing to be constructed. The city of Auckland, New Zealand for example enacted similar policies as HAP 2.0 in 2016. Relative to other cities with restrictive housing policies, their rents are up to 35% lower for family housing. WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATUS OF THIS LEGISLATION? HAP 2.0 is tentatively set to go to the San Diego City Council for a vote sometime in November of this year. However, on August 3, 2023, the Planning Commission removed SB 10 from the package largely due to the large quantity of negative testimony organized by anti-housing groups. Pro-housing advocates would have benefitted from greater numbers in pro-SB 10, pro-HAP 2.0 testimony both in-person and through email public comments to show the Commission the true support of the community for SB 10’s implementation within HAP 2.0. The Land Use and Housing Committee of the City Council formally removed the piece from HAP 2.0 on September 21, 2023. The rest of HAP 2.0 is intact though, and will be going up to a vote soon. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR HAP 2.0? Despite the benefits of this policy package, there are several anti-housing groups working towards blocking many of the most important aspects of this package. Their reasons for blocking systemic solutions to the housing crisis include fears of increased traffic, reduced property values, and lack of sunlight. Their loud efforts at City Council and Planning Commission meetings have already resulted in Senate Bill 10 being removed from HAP 2.0. WHAT IS SENATE BILL 10? Senate Bill 10 is a piece of state legislation that authorizes cities like San Diego to upzone single-family zoned land, through splitting lots, and other incentives, without having to cut through red-tape that usually delays the development of desperately needed housing. This legislation also provides the capacity to create San Diego’s missing middle-income housing and combat the effects of historically exclusive and biased land-use policy. Check out this webpage for more information on this bill specifically. WHY WAS SENATE BILL 10 REMOVED? A major reason there was so much attention paid to removing SB 10, is likely because it was one of the most important parts of this package. One of the more frequently cited arguments against its inclusion was due to its “irreversibility.” This provision of SB 10 refers to the fact that once a parcel of land has been upzoned using the legislation, it cannot subsequently be “downzoned,” or its allowed density cannot be reduced. The “irreversibility” characteristic is key to the impact SB 10 can create because the alternative is allowing the opportunity for downzoning. For example, in Los Angeles, downzoning efforts led the city’s zoned capacity to drop from 10 million before the 1960s down to around 4 million . Los Angeles’s 3.9 million and growing population is quickly reaching this unnecessary and avoidable capacity limit. SB 10’s prohibition on downzoning is what earned it such negative efforts from anti-housing advocates, but is what gives this policy such potential to have meaningful and positive impacts on the housing crisis if implemented. WHY SHOULD YOU SUPPORT SENATE BILL 10 DESPITE IT'S REMOVAL FROM HAP 2.0? Though SB 10 has been tabled at the moment from being implemented within HAP 2.0, Our Time To Act (OTTA) alongside our community partners and neighbors, will still be advocating for its implementation. By showing continued support for SB 10, despite its removal from this policy package, we will demonstrate to the City Council that the majority of San Diego is serious about taking action that will treat housing as a human right. Sustained support will make our efforts to implement SB 10 in the future stronger. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? The passage of this policy package is essential to solving the housing crisis. Although the housing crisis has a multitude of causes and potential solutions, fundamentally we must build more housing. It’s like we’re currently playing a game of musical chairs; if there are 10 chairs and 15 people, ultimately 5 people will be chair-less no matter how you redistribute it. The solution is to allow 5 more chairs to be added, with plans in place to add more chairs as more people join the game. HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS PASSING THESE POLICIES? You can get involved with Our Time To Act and lend your support through public comment when HAP 2.0 goes up for a vote. We would love to have you join us in person, through Zoom, or by making an online comment voicing your support. As the meeting date for HAP 2.0 has not yet been released, you can show your support now through making a comment here , and we will submit it for you as soon as the date is announced. HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? Ask away! We are more than happy to provide more information. Send an email to Nicole Lillie, our Housing Project Director. nicole.lillie@ottaunited.org

MIDWAY PROJECT BACKGROUND Midway District, neighboring Old Town San Diego, is home to many notable attractions in SD such as Kobey’s Swap Meet and Pechanga Arena. In 2020, voters approved an increase in the development. Recently, however, the city has recently blocked bids that prioritize housing over building a new stadium. We are advocating for housing to be the first priority in new development. TAKE ACTION GOALS ADVOCATE for housing to be the top priority in Midway development. CALL for the City Council to reject the Mayor's recommendation to cut two bidders out, and instead implement a clear process for analysis and selection. MORE RESOURCES "Politics Report: What San Diegans Are Worried About Now, " Voice of San Diego (April 2022) "Not only do housing and homelessness now rank as the biggest problem for nearly 60 percent of the city, according to this poll, but virtually every other concern has faded from view. No single issue gets more than five percent of people’s attention." ​ "San Diego’s sports arena site is up for grabs. These are the 5 teams competing to remake the property, " San Diego Union-Tribune (January 2022) ​ "What is the strongest bid for San Diego’s sports arena site? " San Diego Union-Tribune (February 2022) ​ "City Staff Picks Preferred Sports Arena Bid, " Voice of San Diego (April 2022) "The staff recommendation shows how much Mayor Todd Gloria is prioritizing a new arena on the land, at least in the case of one of the bidders, over affordable housing.” ​ ​ "San Diego Has a Housing Crisis, Not an Arena Crisis, " Voice of San Diego (April 2022) "Public lands should be used for the greatest public good – which in San Diego means housing, housing, and more housing. City leaders have articulated the importance of housing but the real test will be their decision at Midway." ​ "For the city to give priority to a state-of-the-art entertainment complex, intended to attract more concerts and minor-league sports teams, would be a gross example of misguided public planning. Without sufficient housing, San Diego can’t attract new jobs. Higher education can’t attract students."

< Back to Open Positions Assistant Director of Policy and Action Volunteer San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Assistant Director of Policy and Action works within the advocacy branch, with a focus on current legislative activity. They are responsible for coordination between Youth Advocates, Policy Analysts, and the Director of Advocacy, ensuring efficient analysis and action on legislation that affects youth. REQUIREMENTS Prior relevant experience preferred. Demonstrates ability to identify and pursue potential policy areas for action. 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

< Back to Open Positions Assistant Director of Development Volunteer South Bay Area APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Assistant Director of Development works within the Operations branch focusing on fund procurement and financial security. They help guide and direct the work of the Fundraising Specialists and Grant Writers to financially support Our Time to Act United's mission. 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

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