The Westside Jam is an annual self-advocacy fair for individuals served by Westside Regional Center, which celebrates consumers and encourages self-advocacy by providing a fun evening of food, socializing, awareness and client recognition. This year’s jam brought dozens of vendors throughout Los Angeles together in one place, which gave clients the opportunity to learn more about services and providers available to them, including OCRA. In keeping with the Westside Jam’s 2016 theme of “In Unity There is Strength,” the entire event was MC’d by WRC consumers, provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase their individual talents, and also highlighted local heroes who exemplify the themes principle by nominating and awarding clients with the “Hero in Me” Award. 

OCRA staff shared in the occasion by hosting a table where clients could meet-and-greet their local CRA, ACRA and Peer Advocate, ask questions about their legal rights, and take publications that interested them. Most importantly, clients and potential clients were given the opportunity to discover OCRA as a resource for advocacy and legal services in the future.