Four friends from law school end up at OCRA

Who would think that four young women who met in law school would all end up working for the same organization. But it happened, and regional center consumers, PAI and the Office of Clients. Rights Advocacy (OCRA) are the better for it.

Aleyda Toruno, Maria Bryant, Arlene Silva, and Patricia Carlos all met at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa. They don.t remember exactly how or when they became friends, but they did. All four graduated in May 1999. Toruno and Carlos spent long hours preparing for the Bar exam in Los Angeles; Silva and Bryant did the same in Orange County. After the exam, the four stayed in touch, supporting each other in their efforts to find meaningful work.

In October 1999, Toruno and Bryant became two of the original Assistant Clients. Rights Advocates (ACRAs) for the newly formed OCRA. Toruno started in South Central Los Angeles and Bryant in Orange County. Eventually, Toruno became the CRA at Inland Regional Center and Bryant moved into the Orange County CRA position.

When Bryant made the transition to CRA, Carlos became the ACRA in Orange County. Then Carlos moved to become the CRA in South Central. When Bryant became CRA in the San Gabriel/ Pomona office, Silva joined OCRA as the ACRA in Orange County. Later, Bryant moved to a Northern California office, and Silva filled in at San Gabriel/ Pomona.

From distinct backgrounds, and not too clear on what awaited them after law school, all four women found themselves working for OCRA. Today, Bryant is CRA for Alta Regional Center, and Toruno is an advocate in PAI.s San Diego office. Carlos and Silva no longer work for the organization, but more Whittier alumni keep signing on to be a part of PAI/OCRA.