The Quiet Work of Community
Bluffer Josh Fox knows how to show up. When you meet him, it’s easy to see that he’s not simply checking a box. He volunteers his time, energy and resources because he wants to help create a village where neighbors show up when it matters. “I’ll get philosophical with you,” he says with a laugh. “Fundamentally, people want safety. Safety comes from trust. Trust comes from knowing one another, and knowing comes from interacting. Interacting happens in community.”
It’s a simple philosophy, but one that has shaped the way he approaches nearly everything he does. Whether organizing community gatherings, helping neighbors in need, or rallying residents around local events, he believes every shared experience strengthens the fabric of the village. That instinct traces back to his family. His mother grew up in the tiny volunteer town of Empire, Michigan, where neighbors simply pitched in because that was what communities did. To him, Lake Bluff shares that same spirit. “Lake Bluff is a volunteer town too,” he says. “I just enjoy carrying that spirit forward.”
His latest example came during the Lake Bluff Criterium. Tangley Oaks resident Ron Oesterlein, who has helped lead the annual event for years, has long viewed the race as far more than a cycling competition. “The Lake Bluff Criterium isn’t just a bike race - it’s a community celebration,” Ron says. “I love the festival feel, where neighbors, families, volunteers, sponsors, and visitors all come together for a great day.”
Ron, a lifelong cyclist, helped bring a bike shop to downtown Lake Bluff in 2010 and later took over ownership to keep it in the community. Organizing the Criterium has become another way to combine his passion for cycling with giving back to the village he loves. This year, Ron personally contributed $1,000 toward the race’s prize purse. When Josh learned about it, he wondered whether the community could do more. Within days, he emailed hundreds of neighbors with a simple request: if 100 households each gave $20, they could double the prize fund while giving more people a stake in the event. The response was immediate. Nearly 80 households contributed, raising $2,000 that was split evenly between the men’s and women’s races.
For Ron, that outpouring of support captured exactly what makes the event special. “What inspires me to stay involved is seeing our community come together,” he says. “Hundreds of volunteers, local businesses, sponsors, Village staff, and residents all play a part in making this event possible.”
To Josh, that’s the point. Community isn’t built by one person doing everything. It’s built when someone is willing to make the first phone call, send the first email or ask, “What if we did this together?” He hopes more people discover that volunteering doesn’t require special qualifications - just the willingness to raise a hand. “You are definitely qualified,” he says. “You’ll make a new friend, something funny will happen, and you’ll have a good story to tell.”