Aidan wearing a UC San Diego graduation gown and stole standing on a beach with the ocean and cloudy sky in the background.

Aidan Lin-Tostado is a community organizer, state commissioner, and nonprofit leader.

He co-founded Our Time To Act in 2018, serving as Executive Director during its rise as a powerful youth organizing 501(c)(3) nonprofit in San Diego. He currently serves on the board of directors as President.

In 2023, he was appointed to the State of California’s newly formed Youth Empowerment Commission, charged with advising the Governor, State Legislature, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was elected by his peers to serve as the commission’s inaugural Vice Chair (2024-26) and then Chair (2026-27).

From 2024-25, Aidan worked full-time at Nonviolent Peaceforce. As Program Coordinator, he worked on the ground in San Diego to build safety ecosystems and community-led protection in San Diego using nonviolent, noncarceral, and collective-based pathways.

Aidan graduated cum laude from UC San Diego (‘24) and Homestead High School (‘20). He is currently pursuing a J.D. at Berkeley Law as a Public Interest Scholar (‘29).

Speaking/Facilitation Engagements

  • Panelist – Zócalo Public Square: “Will California’s Future Be Exceptional?” (2025)

  • Keynote Speaker – San Diego Pride’s Youth Leadership Academy: “Resilience, Liberation, and Embodiment” (2024)

  • Panelist – UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement: “#SpeechMatters Conference” (2022)

  • Facilitator – 9+ workshops on grassroots organizing, community-led safety, cycles of violence, and youth power. Partners included Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest, the Bay Area Psychological Association, Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, and San Diego Pride.

Former Positions

  • Program Coordinator, Nonviolent Peaceforce

  • Youth Commissioner, City of San Diego

  • Government Affairs Director, Office of Local Affairs, Associated Students of UC San Diego

  • Associate Vice President of Local Affairs, Associated Students of UC San Diego

  • Campus-wide Senator, Associated Students of UC San Diego

Awards/Honors

  • Young Dem Gets It Done Non-Profit Award | San Diego County Young Dems (October 2023)

  • Spirit of Stonewall Community Service Award | San Diego Pride (July 2022)

  • Bridge Builder Award of the 2022 API Leaders of the Year | Asian Business Association of San Diego (May 2022)