Navy Week at the Y

What is Navy Week? 

Navy Week is a national outreach program designed to connect local communities with U.S. Navy personnel.

Navy Week gives service members the opportunity to connect with and learn from local communities: The heart of Navy Week is civic exchange—service members learn from the people and organizations that make communities thrive, while offering their own service in return. 

Navy Week is not about recruitment or promoting the military, but about people, service, and community. 

Is Navy Week a recruitment event? 

No. The Eugene Family YMCA is not hosting Navy Week as a recruitment effort. There will be no enlistment activities or sign-up tables. The purpose of the event is service and connection—not recruitment. 

Is the YMCA getting paid to host Navy Week?

No. The Eugene Family YMCA is not being paid to have service members volunteer their time here. 

Why is the YMCA part of Navy Week? 

The Eugene Family YMCA is one of 50 organizations across Eugene-Springfield to participate in Navy Week. Other organizations include The Boys and Girls Club, Willamalane, Kidsports, Food for Lane County, Positive Community Kitchen, St. Vincent de Paul and dozens more.  

As a nonprofit rooted in service to the entire community, our mission is to create space where people of all backgrounds feel welcome, connected, and valued. Whether through programs, events, or outreach, we aim to offer opportunities for meaningful connection—sometimes with those who think, look, or believe differently than we do. 

Hosting Navy Week brings people and experiences into the community that many members would otherwise never encounter. Allowing people whose life experiences differ from our own—ones sometimes misunderstood—to share their stories helps combat stereotypes and builds empathy. 

In a polarized world, even inclusive efforts can be misinterpreted. A diverse calendar of events—hosting Navy Week, celebrating PRIDE Month, closing for Juneteenth, or our CommUNITY series—can be seen not as bridge-building and caring, but as political statements. Still, we choose to be bridge builders—knowing that critiques may come, even valid ones, but so too will connection and awareness. 

“We hope that when the community witnesses the Y seeking to build bridges of understanding, they will be inspired by this vision and develop confidence in the Y’s demonstrably sincere desire to be a welcoming place for all,” says CEO Brian Steffen. “We believe healing begins when people see each other as individuals. When we move from broad judgments to nuanced awareness, we create space for empathy, growth, and real change. That’s the work we’re doing at the Y—not just offering programs, but creating a culture of belonging. It’s not easy. But it’s necessary. And it’s worth it.” 

Why didn't you just choose to not participate at all? 

The Y welcomes a diversity of perspectives, experiences, and expertise. Hosting Navy Week is not an endorsement of any war, political agenda, or military action. It is a civic and cultural outreach program. 

We believe in diverse voices. Not hosting Navy Week would mean shutting down a chance for that voice (service members) to be heard and to engage with the community. 

Part of our community commitment is offering a wide range of experiences—positive and challenging—for members to think critically, form their own opinions, and respect others. 

If we decline opportunities like Navy Week out of fear or discomfort, we risk limiting those growth experiences and reinforcing echo chambers rather than building community. 

What message does hosting Navy Week send to our youth? 

It shows that the YMCA values education, dialogue and curiosity. 

It teaches youth how to engage respectfully with people whose experiences or beliefs may differ from their own. 

It models what it means to be an informed, compassionate citizen—a key part of the Y’s mission.

What if members feel uncomfortable with the presence of the Navy at the Y? 

We understand that some individuals have strong feelings about Navy Week. Our goal is to host this event in a way that promotes curiosity, listening and respect. We hope that people use this opportunity to develop empathy and understanding. 

Our Y offers a variety of other programming that can also elicit feelings of discomfort. This is exactly what is desired, needed and fostered at the Y. As many thoughtful leaders have expressed: We would rather feel the heat of thoughtful debate than the chill of indifference. But please know that we continue our work with other programming to ensure balance in the voices and experiences represented at the Y.  

We are aware of members who plan to protest and call media. We welcome the open dialogue and the opportunity for spirited debate. 

How does the YMCA respond to requests by organizations to volunteer? 

The Eugene Family YMCA evaluates all partnerships and volunteer opportunities using the same criteria: 

• Does the activity align with our mission to strengthen community? 
• Does it create opportunities for education, service or understanding? 
• Does it respect the Y's nonpartisan and inclusive values? 

If any organization wants to volunteer or contribute in ways that meet these criteria, we would welcome a thoughtful conversation about how to engage appropriately. The Y encourages all people and organizations to serve their community in ways that build bridges rather than barriers.