Bike rack and fencing walls are a bridge to an egg hunt. Latasha James, an Oak Park resident for five years, steers her daughter De’anna James, 3, to the direction of eggs. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc/for Chronicle Media)

An estimated 200 people turned out for the first Bridge for Peace Community Egg Hunt on April 1 in Oak Park in the mall area of Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRF) at 201 N. Scoville Ave.

The Saturday afternoon event, with sunny skies and temperatures nearly 60 degrees, was sponsored by Suburban Unity Alliance (SUA), a nonprofit organization based in Oak Park.

With OPRF as host, the Student Action Alliance, Root2Fruit Foundation and #1 STV were event partners and presenters.

“We thought it was important to purposefully create an event and an egg hunt where everyone felt welcome,” said Anthony Clark, a lifelong Oak Park resident and an OPRF special education teacher.

Clark is also founder and director of Suburban Unity Alliance.

“We just wanted to extend that branch out to all our surrounding communities because we believe in building bridges, not walls,” Clark said.

“We think it’s important to build that sense of greater community.”

Latasha James (right), an Oak Park resident for five years, steers her daughter (wearing pink skirt and coat) De’anna James, 3, to the direction of eggs. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc/for Chronicle Media)

According to http://www.suburbanunity.org, Suburban Unity Alliance was created in summer of 2016 to showcase the diversity of suburban communities, raise discrimination awareness, and bring communities together based on empathy, collaboration and equitable philanthropic endeavors.

Last November, more than 200 supporters turned out in Oak Park at Scoville Park (800 Lake St.) for the Community for Unity Rally, organized by the SUA.

Approximately six months later, Clark estimated that 1,300 plastic eggs were distributed during the two-hour spring event.

The Spring Bunny made an appearance. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc/for Chronicle Media)

Colorful eggs, filled with allergy-free candy, were added in waves to accommodate families who dropped in. There was no set time for all children to find eggs at once.

Each child was encouraged to leave with seven eggs. Many children carried baskets or festive bags to collect their eggs.

Latasha James, a five-year resident of Oak Park, brought her daughter De’anna James, 3, “just to be a part of the community.

“When they have events for the kids, I like to bring her out,” the child’s mother said.

“De’anna has Down Syndrome and we work with … Easter Seals and Easter Seals invited us,” said James, who grew up in Forest Park.

A children’s performer who specializes in balloon animal requests and the Spring Bunny were attractions. Clark said most of the eggs and candy were donated.

Sharita Galloway of Oak Park and her son King Galloway, 14 months, are in the sunshine with outdoor temperatures at nearly 60 degrees. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc/for Chronicle Media)

“I love to volunteer,” said Dima Ali of Oak Park, who gave of her time and skills as a face painter.

“I’m an activist as well so this is right up my alley,” Ali said.

What’s the power of an egg or its symbolism?

“You know what? That’s a great question,” Clark said.

“But for me, I think an egg symbolizes what we’re doing now.

“In a sense, we’re all inside of an egg, I guess, gestating, developing, our communities are developing these new relationships, these bridges,” Clark said.

“We’re going to get to the point one day where we’re able to hatch as new communities.”

Many converged around a table to purchase tickets for a drawing in which the prize was a $100 shopping spree at Geppetto’s Toy Box in Oak Park.

Clark said all proceeds from the drawing ($300) will be added to the Elijah Sims Memorial Reward Fund, organized by Clark and created last Feb. 26 on GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/elijah-sims-memorial-reward-fund.

Anthony Clark (center), a lifelong Oak Park resident and a special education teacher at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park is at the prize table. Clark is also founder and director of Suburban Unity Alliance, a non-profit organization in Oak Park. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc/for Chronicle Media)

A goal of $10,000 is set for a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in connection with the death of Elijah Sims.

Sims, an OPRF senior, was shot in the head Aug. 29 while visiting with family and friends in the Austin community. He died on the morning of Aug. 30, the day before his 17th birthday.

Elijah’s memory was honored at a community vigil on his birthday (Aug. 31, 2016) at Scoville Park.

Latasha James (right), an Oak Park resident for five years, steers her daughter (wearing pink skirt and coat) De’anna James, 3, to the direction of eggs. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc/for Chronicle Media)

Elijah’s mother is Sharita Galloway of Oak Park and his siblings are Isaiah Sims, 20, Walter Sims, 19, and King Galloway, 14 months.

Sharita Galloway, who attended the egg hunt event, acknowledged SUA for its support of her family.

“I’m very excited about today and happy to see all of the kids out here running around,” she said with a smile.

“It’s a very joyous occasion for a good cause.”

Of her son: “Elijah was a good kid with a lot of goals,” Sharita Galloway said.

“He had a very great life ahead of him that was taken away so drastically.

“We’re keeping his name alive.”

Read the current issue of the Cook County Chronicle

Free subscription to the digital edition of the Cook County Chronicle

— Hundreds turn out for the first Bridge for Peace Community Egg Hunt —