Chicago City Wire

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) was impressed at the recent unveiling of a mural promoting unity in Oak Park. 

"It was my pleasure to help #BuildingBridges at the unveiling of a new mural painted by St. Giles students at Code Ninjas on North Avenue in Oak Park.  The students did a wonderful job and it is a great gift back to the community," Harmon posted on his Facebook page. "Thanks again for helping our community" 

This is the first in what organizers hope is a series of murals in Oak Park and Galewood. The project was created by the North Avenue District, which hopes to unite Chicago and Oak Park, as well as other neighborhoods in the area.

Other members of the legislature also showed support for the project.

“This is what we need in our community,” state Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park) said. “I’m very excited about the energy that’s bringing together the local businesses, the government and the residents to the benefit of North Avenue.”

Jocelyne Adkins, the program director for By Discovery, acknowledged the student artists' efforts. 

“Their dedication to their task never wavered,” Adkins said. “Nor did their ability to enjoy the process.”

Judith Alexander, the North Avenue District’s chairwoman, said that crowded traffic and a lack of quality pedestrian crossings hinders the ability of residents of the two communities to support each others’ businesses, according to Oak Park's website. One of the goals of the mural series is to change those conditions. Improvement to sidewalks and landscaping are other measures being contemplated to encourage more cross pollination. 

Oak Park's website also said that in the future professional artists may collaborate with students for additional murals. 

Harmon recently visited London with Gov. J.B. Pritzker to promote international investment in the state of Illinois.