By Meg Bertoni

Easter is a good time to reflect on the unbreakable spirit of Oakland.

Hard times and crises come and go, but Oaklanders keep planting, celebrating and sticking around, working hard to bring about better days. It’s remarkable, really, this city’s penchant for reinvention, rebirth and resurrection.

For many, though, Easter is a kids’ holiday, and the last people who should know that times are extraordinarily hard are the kids. The Oakland Mosswood Easter Egg Hunt is perhaps the greatest conspiracy in town to keep it quiet - involving community activists and volunteers, nonprofits, businesses and government.

The hunt is TODAY, Saturday, April 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Mosswood Park Community Center, 3612 Webster St., Oakland. One of the largest free kids’ events in Oakland, more than 1,000 kids will get free lunches. And for the hunt itself (for ages 6 months to 14 years), more than 7,000 eggs will be filled with more than half a million pieces of candy. A few lucky kids will even win bikes.

For those who get there early, there also will be opportunities to build free Easter baskets. Additionally, there will be a kids’ dance contest, games hosted by Oakland Parks and Recreation, live kid-friendly performances and face painting for all.

Go on ... join the conspiracy!