At the 2026 YMCA Advocacy Days 2026 in Washington, DC, Norma B. Hutcheson joined YMCA leaders and advocates from across the country to champion the programs and policies that strengthen communities. Speaking to a national audience of YMCA staff, volunteers, and supporters, Hutcheson highlighted the vital role local YMCAs play in expanding access to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility—while emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy and partnership at the federal level.
Please find her remarks below.
Good morning, everyone — and welcome to Washington, DC. It is truly an honor to open our 2026 YMCA Advocacy Days right here in the nation’s capital. For those I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, I’m Norma Hutcheson, Chair of the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington. I spent 36 years in federal service as Deputy Managing Counsel for the U.S. Postal Service, and I continue to serve in governance roles here in the District — including as Chair of the DC Board of Ethics and Government Accountability. Public service has shaped my life. And so has the YMCA. Both have taught me the same lesson: strong institutions matter — especially when they are rooted in trust, accountability and service to community. And that is why we are here today. For more than 175 years, the YMCA has strengthened communities by connecting people to their potential, their purpose and each other . But we know that connection alone is not enough. Access matters. Opportunity matters. Policy matters.
Over the next two days, we will speak with lawmakers about issues that directly affect the families and communities we serve:
- Expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care and early learning
- Addressing the youth mental health crisis
- Supporting public health partnerships that prevent chronic disease and improve well-being
- Strengthening workforce development pathways for young adults
- Protecting the charitable sector and nonprofit tax status so organizations like the Y can continue to serve all
At our Ys, we see the impact of these policies every single day. We see working parents struggling to find safe, reliable child care. We see young people navigating anxiety and isolation. We see communities that need trusted partners to deliver health and wellness programs. We see families who depend on the Y not just as a facility — but as a lifeline. And we know that equity must remain at the center of this work . Because strong communities are equitable communities — communities where every person, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to the opportunities they need to thrive. Advocacy is how we extend our mission beyond our four walls.
It is how we remove barriers.
It is how we amplify the voices of those we serve.
It is how we live out our values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
As someone who has spent decades working within the federal system, let me offer this encouragement: your voices matter here. Personal stories matter. Local data matters.
Relationships matter. When you walk into a congressional office this week, you are not just representing your YMCA. You are representing children who found confidence in swim lessons. Teens who discovered leadership through Youth & Government. Families who found stability through child care. Seniors who found connection and belonging. You are representing communities that trust us. And policymakers need to hear from trusted institutions. So I encourage you: be clear. Be confident. Be values-driven. Speak to impact. And
remind every elected official you meet that investing in the YMCA is investing in stronger communities for all.
Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your commitment. And thank you for being champions — not just for the Y, but for a better us.
Let’s get to work.
