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< Back New year, new faces. Meet some of the new leaders of our organization Saturday, January 9, 2021 Our Time to Act United Happy New Year and Welcome to 2021! Our Time To Act United is very much looking forward to another year of youth empowerment and working together to positively impact our communities. As we usher in a new year, we are also ushering in a new team. First we’d like to welcome our newest members of the Board, starting with Iris Leung as President and Ria Maheshwari as Vice President. Ms. Leung and Ms. Maheshwari did an extraordinary job last year leading the staff through a myriad of successes as Executive Director and Assistant Executive Director, respectively. Our Time To Act United is incredibly honored to welcome them to the board, and we have full confidence they will make 2021 an outstanding year for this organization. We’d also like to give a warm welcome to Anna Pierce, who will be a wonderful addition to the Strategy and Risk Committee. Congratulations to our new committee chairs: Allison Park as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Development Committee and Janice Park as Chair of the Strategy and Risk Committee. Thank you to all other board members as they continue to diligently serve Our Time To Act United. With the new year, we also have the pleasure of welcoming our new staff. Our Executive Director, Aidan Lin, is leading the staff this year. Mr. Lin has previously served as President of Our Time To Act United, and he is more than qualified for the job with the hard work and dedication he has shown throughout his years working with us. Another addition to the team is our Associate Executive Director, Ken Fesler. We know he’ll do a phenomenal job assisting Mr. Lin and leading the team. Our staff team currently consists of three members; Andrew Park, Apurv Gupta, and Suniska Patel will be working with us in 2021. Thank you for your continued support of Our Time To Act United. We look forward to the coming year! Next Previous

Youth own the future. We're shaping it now. BE THE CHANGE Join Our Team Our Time To Act is a passionate team comprised of youth leaders, youth allies, and partners who enable us to further empower our communities. We offer job opportunities across various disciplines including community organizing, outreach, internal development, and more. OPEN POSITIONS ABOUT US Join Our Team UNITING FOR A BETTER FUTURE Support Our Work In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, there is a powerful force that can bring about positive change - the collective support and generosity of individuals like you. A contribution of any amount is highly welcome and goes toward advancing our mission. BECOME A MEMBER DONATE If you would like to send cash or check*, please mail to: ​ Our Time to Act United 3252 Holiday Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA, 92037 ​ *Please make checks payable to Our Time to Act United Support Our Cause

< Back OTTA United holds multi-day, organization-wide retreat in San Diego Saturday, December 10, 2022 Benjamin Wang, Staff Our Time to Act (OTTA) United is all about organizing, community, and consensus-building. These values are embodied in the work that OTTA United does for our communities. Twice a year, OTTA United reaffirms its commitment to these principles by holding an organization-wide retreat. These retreats allow OTTA United staff and board to come together as an OTTA United family and strengthen our personal and professional relationships. On December 9th and 10th, 2022, OTTA United held its second retreat in California and its first in San Diego. OTTA United members flew into San Diego from as far away as New York to make the most of this staff bonding and professional development opportunity. OTTA United’s winter retreat struck a perfect balance between work and play, with visits to the Cabrillo National Monument and Liberty Station in between trainings led by OTTA United leaders. Workshops on topics such as Community Organizing, led by Director of Services Apurv Gupta, and Event Programming, led by Director of Communications Isaac Lara, allowed us to sharpen our skills in a welcoming space surrounded by the people that make OTTA United special. Let’s hear from our Director of Services, Apurv Gupta, about the retreat. Hey Apurv! It’s so nice to see you again. Could you introduce yourself and your role within OTTA United? What does your role entail? My name is Apurv Gupta and I’m the Director of Services here at OTTA United. My role usually involves designing and producing services for the organization; these would be internal or external programs that can empower youth directly. My work tends to be a mix of research, advocacy, event-planning, and managing logistics. On day 1 of the retreat, you facilitated a workshop on Community Organizing. Could you talk a little bit about your workshop? Of course! OTTA United recently decided to shift our organizational focus into Community Organizing, a practice that empowers youth through a development of their capacity. Prior to this shift, I did a lot of research in organizing, and worked with Aidan – our wonderful Executive Director – to plan out some potential programs and applications of the approach. Not everyone on the team, however, had as comprehensive of an understanding, and my workshop aimed to build upon that so everyone was in the loop. In the workshop, I talked about the 3 types of changemaking - lone wolf, mobilizing, and organizing - and how each was significant in their own way. The training also had a lot of activities that gave OTTA United members a lens into organizing and how that could look for the organization or for themselves. Overall, I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and I’m excited to see how OTTA United embraces organizing in the future! Last but not least, I wanted to ask about what this retreat meant to you. Do you have any memories or takeaways from the retreat that you can share with us? This retreat was, by far, my most memorable professional experience. The majority of our staff population lives in San Diego, and I live all the way up in the Bay Area; the physical distance often means I feel more disconnected from the team than I’d like. But the retreat brought me closer to every single person in OTTA United. I underestimated how fun we can be, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be myself around them. The list of memories is extremely long but I’ll go through a few, hopefully keeping things brief. I could talk about bonding over Korean Chicken Wings and Frank Sinatra with Tommy; spending 4 hours working with Ben and Ken on a speech while also guessing Ken’s middle name (we still don’t know); laughing with Isaac and Leana while sharing our mutual love for Keshi; playing Super Smash Ultimate with Donovan and Ken and getting absolutely demolished; flying out with Rachel, Andrew, and Ken in an absurd amount of giddiness; and having intimate, personal conversations with everyone on the team, especially Aidan. I’ve left out about a hundred significant moments, but I’m so grateful for OTTA United and for our team. I’ve never been in a community so diverse yet so powerful, and I’m always going to cherish that. In the end, the success of OTTA United’s winter retreat can be attributed to the perfect balance of work and play as well as the meticulous and careful planning of Rachel Choy, OTTA United’s Assistant Director of Communications. Alongside the efforts of Isaac Lara, OTTA United’s Director of Communications, Rachel’s diligent work and attention to detail made the event possible in the first place. This retreat was a wonderful way to renew our commitment to OTTA United’s values and principles while also fostering deeper connections among the OTTA United staff and board. We look forward to many more awesome retreats in the months and years ahead! Next Previous

Represent API Communities API VOTER ENGAGEMENT PROJECT "It is time that our elected offices are reflective of the communities they serve and that members of the API community have a seat at the table." JASON PAGUIO CEO, Asian Business Association San Diego THE FOCUS 9% Nationally, the number of eligible API voters has increased by 9% since 2018, compared to 3% among all eligible voters. The Asian-Pacific Islander Voter Engagement Project (AVEP) focuses on the factors around civil and political engagement or disengagement among the San Diego Asian-Pacific Islander (API) community . ​ This campaign largely focuses on communities such as Mira Mesa, Kearny Mesa, and University City. Surveying is the medium in which we collect information, and the API Voter Engagement Project will be tabling at local community events to encourage survey responses. The survey will be rolled out to assess levels of civic engagement among the API community and to determine why or why not the San Diego API community is connected with local organizing efforts. ​ THE CONTEXT During the 2021 San Diego City Council Redistricting process, we successfully pushed for higher University City to be moved into City Council District 6 to bolster the youth and API population. ​ However, our work isn't done. Bridging the youth and API community will be fundamental to the success of the new City Council District 6. Strengthening this bond through community-building, outreach, and educational activities will provide a strong core of civic engagement and local participation for District 6. Civic engagement takes on many different forms, whether it be attending city hall meetings, signing petitions, or reaching out to local representatives. However, API community members are underrepresented in many of the avenues of political participation, if they are even given a seat at the table, to begin with. The API Voter Engagement Project would like to assess whether community members as they exist today feel empowered to be a vocal part of the community. Do folks feel that their vote matters in San Diego? Are their language needs being considered? Are API members of the community being overlooked by politicians? Perhaps taken for granted? These questions about civic engagement and the API community of San Diego are worth answering. After all, API political representation has come a long way in San Diego. Over the last few years, API members of San Diego have been fighting for increased representation in local politics. Certainly, an example of this broad effort can be seen with the newly redrawn City Council District 6, which includes the communities of Mira Mesa, University City, and Kearny Mesa. Has the API community noticed these efforts? Do these changes encourage even more civic engagement from the community? In 2020, API voter turnout was up 26% since 2008. Despite improvements, 44% of eligible API voters remained unregistered in 2020. THE IMPACT 346 20 330 4 Homes canvassed People Surveyed Hours worked Staff members THE SURVEY 1 Screening, 5 topics, 10 questions. That's all to it. ​ Contents: Community Engagement Identities and Voting API Outreach and Presentation Reflecting on Your Vote Language Needs ​ Take the survey yourself and be part of our initiative! View Survey Questions THE GOALS ​ Here are our goals laid out. ​ Show up for the community Build rap port with community members Connect with community leaders Collect 350 survey responses Analyze and share survey results Sparky.Mitra@ottaunited.org INSTAGRAM LAUNCH Take a look at Sparky Mitra's, AVEP Project Director, launch video explaining how her team plans to engage with local API communities in the upcoming election. The video is posted on our Instagram (@ottaunited). Go to Video MEET THE TEAM Our mission is dedicated to building your power in San Diego. We aim to connect youth to the API community in places of celebration via event participation and tabling. Thus far, we've worked on organizing youth throughout the redistricting process to champion not only youth voices but aim to build a stronger API district. Sparky Mitra Project Director Donovan Schipper Project Coordinator Benjamin Wang Researcher McKayla Sarmiento Researcher

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

< Back to Open Positions Social Media Manager Volunteer South Bay Area, San Diego, and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE The Social Media Manager is responsible for keeping our social media accounts engaged with supporters, organizations, and youth. They will be tasked with creating and executing an upload schedule and work closely with the graphic designer to bring design concepts into reality. REQUIREMENTS Prior experience preferred. Must be demonstrate ability to engage others through social media. Strong and memorable personality in social media (to stand out from the other social media accounts!). 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

Youth own the future. We're shaping it now . Join an Event with 1-3 hours Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. BE THE CHANGE Join Our Team Our Time To Act is a passionate team comprised of youth leaders, youth allies, and partners who enable us to further empower our communities. We offer job opportunities across various disciplines including community organizing, outreach, internal development, and more. OPEN POSITIONS ABOUT US Join Our Team UNITING FOR A BETTER FUTURE Support Our Work In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, there is a powerful force that can bring about positive change - the collective support and generosity of individuals like you. A contribution of any amount is highly welcome and goes toward advancing our mission. BECOME A MEMBER DONATE If you would like to send cash or check*, please mail to: ​ Our Time to Act United 3252 Holiday Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA, 92037 ​ *Please make checks payable to Our Time to Act United Support Our Cause

< 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 to Open Positions Logistics Event Coordinator Volunteer South Bay Area APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before September 30th. ABOUT THE ROLE Event Coordinators for Logistics aid the Assistant Director of Logistics in smoothly running events. When an operational or program event is commissioned, they help by creating an event plan, calculating event expenses, communicating with event personnel, and facilitating event execution and wrap up. REQUIREMENTS No prior experience required. High school student or beyond. 6-8 hours, 1-2 meetings a week. Our scheduling is highly flexible. Values cooperation, creativity, growth-mindset. Exhibits organization, diligence, and dedication. Passion for youth empowerment. ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION While pursuing our mission of youth empowerment, Our Time to Act United understands the importance of fostering a safe, welcoming, and positive environment for all. As such, the actions we take align with our values as an organization and as individuals. We value meaningful impact. We always seek to genuinely support those that we serve and the people within our organization. We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse group of people. These values are reflected in our hiring practices, decision-making, and programs. Our team and organization is growth-minded and development-focused. We always have room to improve! Our organization promotes honesty, communication, and integrity. These values allow for us to be a cooperative, productive, and effective team. We praise creativity and ingenuity. Nothing is more exciting than thinking outside of the box or challenging the status quo. Applications are a two-way street. We make our values as an organization clear to you in order to make sure our team is the right fit—and we hope we are! Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions regarding our organization, values, workplace environment, or the application process. APPLY

< Back Aidan Lin appointed by California Senate to new state-wide Youth Empowerment Commission Wednesday, January 18, 2023 Our Time to Act United On January 18th, the California Senate Rules Committee confirmed their appointment of Aidan Lin, Executive Director of Our Time to Act (OTTA) United, to the brand new state-wide Youth Empowerment Commission. “The California Youth Empowerment Commission is an exciting new opportunity to improve communication and meaningful collaboration between California’s youth and the state Legislature, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Governor,” summarized Toni Atkins, leader of the California State Senate, in a press release . Senator Atkins commended Mr. Lin for his work and experiences and said he will “no doubt be essential to the Commission during its formative years.” Our Time to Act United is extremely proud to hear of Mr. Lin’s involvement in the new commission. To date, he is the first California Youth Empowerment Commissioner in the state’s history. We commend the state and the commission’s advocates for uplifting the voice of young people in our government, and we look forward to supporting the group in the months and years to come. sd39.senate.ca.gov Aidan Lin Appointed to the California Youth Empowerment Commission SACRAMENTO &ndash; Today, the Senate Rules Committee, chaired by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), appointed Aidan Lin to the California Youth Empowerment Commission. &ldqu Next Previous

< Back to Open Positions Marketing Intern Intern (Volunteer) San Diego and/or Remote APPLY Rolling application. Priority given to applications submitted before May 31st. ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a driven and enthusiastic Marketing intern to join our Communications team. This is a great opportunity for students or recent graduates to gain hands on experience and mentorship. Position responsibilities include to: Collaborate with the Communication’s team to develop and execute campaigns and strategies Conduct market research and analyze data to support marketing initiatives, contribute to the creation of marketing materials such as fliers, emails, and social media contents Help manage social media accounts and website Assist with strategizing event programing and outreach efforts Assist with Search Engine Marketing using Google Keyword Ads Attend Communication and staff meetings Further duties as assigned REQUIREMENTS Enrolled in a marketing, communications, or related field of study Strong writing and communication skills Familiarity with social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Ability to balance multiple projects and meet deadlines Able to work both independently and as part of a team Basic knowledge of graphic design software, such as Canva, is a plus ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OTTA United is a youth-founded, youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to organize powerful youth for an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. OTTA United values authenticity and passion. We play the role of coalition builders and mentors within our communities, sharing knowledge, resources, credit, and impact. And as a justice-oriented, impact-driven, and people-centered organization, our perspective grounds us with who we serve and the work we do while advancing our mission. Applications are a two-way street. We make our values as an organization clear to you to make sure our team is the right fit—and we hope we are! Here are some things to keep in mind: Our team values flexibility and taking initiative over structure and top-down delegation. This philosophy is not a good fit for all, so we want to be clear upfront. If you thrive in dynamic, open environments, this is the place for you. We value meaningful impact and support. We seek to authentically serve both our audience and our team members alike. We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse group of people. These values are reflected in our hiring practices, decision-making, and programs. Our team and organization are growth-minded and development-focused. We always have room to improve, at all levels of our organization! Our organization promotes honesty, communication, and integrity. These values allow us to be an effective team. We praise creativity and ingenuity. Nothing is more exciting than thinking outside of the box or challenging the status quo. We prefer personability over professionalism, at least in internal settings. APPLY

< Back OTTA United Receives “Partner of the Year Award” from YIMBY Democrats of San Diego Wednesday, August 23, 2023 Our Time to Act United MEDIA CONTACT: Mariya Grabovska, Press Intern ( mariya.grabovska@ottaunited.org ) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: San Diego, CA – August 23, 2023 – OTTA United, a formidable advocate for housing solutions and youth engagement, proudly announces its receipt of the "Partner of the Year Award" from the YIMBY Democrats of San Diego County. This prestigious award highlights OTTA United's exceptional dedication to the pro-housing movement and its unwavering commitment to amplifying youth voices in the community. The "Partner of the Year" award is a testament to OTTA United's unwavering dedication to promoting housing initiatives that benefit the entire San Diego community. OTTA United has actively engaged in critical conversations surrounding housing policy and has taken decisive steps to reach out to local universities, youth, and young professionals to foster greater community involvement. OTTA United takes immense pride in its nomination and its role as an advocate for a sustainable future, particularly for the youth of San Diego. Next Previous