Robert Wittenberg – Oak Park: A Community to Call Home

I HAVE SPENT THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY LIFE IN AND AROUND OAK PARK, and I consider myself blessed to represent my neighbors, friends, and family that reside in this community.

Growing up, I regularly visited my grand-parents who chose Oak Park as their home when they relocated from Canada in 1969. My grandfather, a union electrician, moved here with my grandmother to work on the Fermi plant. But it was the people of Oak Park and the sense of community that inspired them to stay. The kindness of residents, the beauty and affordability of neighborhoods, and the quality public amenities kept my grandparents in Oak Park for the duration of their lives.

The teachers, neighbors, and friends I met in Oak Park helped shape me into the person I am today; from the educators at Norup to my neighbors on Harding Street. As an adult, I owned my first home in Oak Park because I was drawn to the diversity of the city’s residents, neighborhoods, and businesses; I knew that Oak Park would be a perfect community for me to thrive.

AS I REFLECT ON OAK PARK IN HONOR OF OUR 75TH BIRTHDAY, I have fond memories that span the course of my lifetime, and I look forward to sharing them with my own children. I am humbled and honored to serve all Oak Park residents – my neighbors and friends – as our state representative in Lansing. My passion for public service and helping others is undoubtedly a result of my upbringing in and around Oak Park, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Happy Birthday, Oak Park! You’ve never looked better!

Robert Wittenberg
State Representative