The AKA Sorority brought out health agencies, food and entertainment Saturday at its annual “A Community Health Fair,” which took place at Homan Square Community Center, 3517 W. Arthington.

AKA sorority members, Anna Ford, president of the sorority, and event organizer Barbara Hyshaw called the bizarre, or AKAzaar as its traditionally referred to, an event promoting awareness for the mind, body, and soul.

In its eighth year, the event has been supported by elected officials and the community, Ford and Hyshaw said.

More than 30 non-profit vendors attended. The event included free mammograms and other health-related screenings for participants. Some for- profit groups also attended, including AT&T, Washington Mutual, and several small business vendors. The AKA Sorority raised roughly $30,000 through the event.

Entertainment Saturday included The HOPE House Choir and the Percy Frye Ensemble. The AKAzaar also featured Yogi and other fitness workouts in the center’s gym. The event lasted from 10 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.

The Homan Square Community Center in North Lawndale has been the most recent home for the AKAzaar. Hyshaw, who lives in North Lawndale just a few blocks from the center, said she believes that they are “helping the community,” and that events like this “help spread the word to people.”

When the vendors left, and the bizarre was over, Hyshaw is still at the Homan Square Center helping the community with fitness-related issues, working with kids, and doing a lot of other activities that help the community, she said.

Vendors attending the event included the Westside NAACP, March of Dimes, Chicago Public Schools, American Lung Association, Life Source Chicago Land Blood Center, Vitas, Lawndale Christian Health Center, RaveJon, AT&T, Washington Mutual, Illinois Material Health, North Lawndale YMCA, Joint/Sports Injuries/Foot Scanning, Manner Baptist Church, Gift For Life, and Family Focus Lawndale.

Sponsors and contributors include, The Chicago Park District, 24th Ward Ald. Michael Chandler, The 11th District Chicago Police and the Neighborhood Technology Resource Center.