Sustainability Meets Workforce Development in This Agency Project
When the Eugene Family YMCA moved to its new location, it faced a challenge: what to do with the materials left behind? Instead of sending them to the landfill, the Y embraced sustainability by salvaging thousands of pounds of materials—including old vinyl. Rather than letting those nondegradable banners go to waste, they found a creative way to give them new life while investing in the next generation of workers by partnering with Connected Lane County’s Agency. The Agency led to a creative solution—turning old vinyl banners into tote bags. We spoke with Beth Casper, VP of Community Engagement, to learn more about the impact of this partnership.
Q: What made you want to work with the Agency?
Beth Casper, VP of Community Engagement at the Eugene Family YMCA:
“The YMCA’s mission centers around three main areas of focus: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. We were particularly drawn to Connected Lane County because their work aligns directly with our youth development focus. They are dedicated to providing young people with opportunities to build skills, gain work experience, and contribute to their community—values that are core to the Y’s mission.”
“By collaborating with Connected Lane County, we were able to support both youth development and environmental sustainability in a meaningful way while also promoting social responsibility within our community.”
Q: Why did you choose this project? Can you explain how the signage was used and why it was important to reuse those materials?
Beth Casper:
“When the Eugene Family YMCA closed its old location on Patterson Street in November 2023, we were excited to prepare for the opening of our new facility at 600 E. 24th Ave. in December 2023. As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, one of our key social responsibility initiatives, we teamed up with BRING to salvage over 26,000 pounds of materials from the old Y building, including cabinets, lockers, door knobs, and mirrors.”
“Among these materials were vinyl banners that had been used to promote YMCA programs, services, and events. Knowing that vinyl banners can take hundreds of years to break down and sometimes longer in landfills, the Y made a conscious decision to shift to more sustainable and digital methods of communication in the new Y.”
“While these banners would not appeal to BRING’s customers, we recognized that reusing them in a creative way could align with our commitment to both the environment and community-building.”
“That’s when we discovered Connected Lane County’s work with youth repurposing old vinyl banners into bags. This offered a perfect solution to recycle the banners and also provided a unique work experience opportunity for youth.”
Q: Why do you think it’s important to provide work experience opportunities to young people?
Beth Casper:
“At the YMCA, we believe that giving young people opportunities to learn and grow through work experience is crucial for their personal and professional development. We focus on helping children reach their full potential, and we recognize that providing older youth, especially teenagers, with hands-on work experience helps set them up for future success. These opportunities help them build skills, gain confidence, and explore potential career paths.”
“Connected Lane County is an excellent example of how to create valuable work training programs for youth. By working with Parker and his peers, they not only developed practical job skills but also contributed to a meaningful project that promotes sustainability and community engagement. The creativity and attention to detail that Parker and his team showed in repurposing the vinyl banners into bags is a testament to the impact of such programs.”
Q: Can you share how the tote bags will be used?
Beth Casper:
“These tote bags will be given to employees who worked at the old YMCA location and those who helped bring the vision of the new Y to life. The bags serve as a meaningful memento, allowing them to remember their work and the role they played in this transition.”
“By repurposing the old banners into these unique, functional bags, we’re able to honor the past while looking toward a sustainable future for both our community and the environment.”
To learn more about the Agency or submit a project idea, visit connectedlane.org/agency.