Traveling Players Bring Joyful Message About Friendship to Kennedy School

Musical performance encourages students to think about kindness, inclusion, and what it means to be a good friend.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The NCJW Traveling Players, a spirited group of women, visited the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. School for Exceptional Children on March 5, bringing a lively program about friendship to the students. Through music, movement, and storytelling, the performers encouraged the students to think about empathy, acceptance, and the importance of supporting one another.

Why it matters

The visit offered a fun and memorable way to reinforce valuable lessons about friendship and kindness for the students at Kennedy School, a specialized therapeutic day school that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The details

The performance featured familiar songs like "You Can Count on Me," "Thank You for Being a Friend," "Somebody to Lean On," and "Let Me Tell You About My Best Friend." Between songs, the performers shared simple but powerful reminders about empathy and acceptance, including the message: "Just because someone doesn't look like you doesn't mean you can't be friends." Students eagerly joined in throughout the performance, singing along, dancing, and moving to the music.

  • The Traveling Players visited the Kennedy School on March 5, 2026.
  • The Traveling Players visit schools, centers, and organizations twice a month during the school year to perform their original musical programs.

The players

NCJW Traveling Players

A spirited group of women who bring silliness and fun, alongside powerful messages of respect, friendship, helpfulness, acceptance, and self-esteem, to young people and adults with special needs. The group is the longest-running community service project offered by the NCJW South Cook Section, celebrating more than 40 years of service.

Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. School for Exceptional Children

A specialized therapeutic day school operated by St. Coletta's of Illinois, serving students ages 3-22 with a range of disabilities, including intellectual and developmental delays. Students come from school districts across Chicago's south, southwest, and western suburbs.

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What’s next

The Traveling Players will continue to visit schools, centers, and organizations throughout the school year, bringing their joyful message of friendship and acceptance to individuals with special needs.

The takeaway

The Traveling Players' visit to the Kennedy School reinforced the importance of fostering kindness, inclusion, and supportive relationships for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, demonstrating how the arts can be a powerful tool for promoting these valuable life lessons.