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Tinley Park Today
By the People, for the People
NCJW Traveling Players Bring Friendship and Inclusion to Kennedy School
The group's 40-year community service project visits places twice a month during the school year.
Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:06pm
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A joyful celebration of friendship and inclusion as the NCJW Traveling Players visit a school for students with special needs.Tinley Park TodayThe National Council of Jewish Women Traveling Players recently visited Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. School for Exceptional Children in Tinley Park, Illinois, using storytelling, movement, and music to encourage inclusion, kindness, empathy, and being a good friend among the students. The group has been running this community service project for 40 years, visiting places twice a month during the school year.
Why it matters
The NCJW Traveling Players' visit to the Kennedy School highlights the importance of promoting inclusion, respect, and friendship for students with special needs. The group's long-running project demonstrates a commitment to supporting the local community and providing enriching experiences for those who may face additional challenges.
The details
During the visit, the NCJW Traveling Players sang songs like 'Thank You for Being a Friend' and 'You Can Count on Me,' and the students sang and danced along. The group aims to bring 'silliness and fun – alongside powerful messages of respect, friendship, helpfulness, acceptance and self-esteem – to young people and adults with special needs.' The Kennedy School is a day school run by St. Coletta's of Illinois that serves students with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
- The NCJW Traveling Players visit places twice a month during the school year.
- The group's visit to the Kennedy School in Tinley Park took place recently.
The players
NCJW Traveling Players
A spirited group of women who bring silliness, fun, and powerful messages of respect, friendship, helpfulness, acceptance, and self-esteem to young people and adults with special needs.
Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. School for Exceptional Children
A day school run by St. Coletta's of Illinois in Tinley Park that serves students 3 to 22 years old who have developmental or intellectual disabilities.
The takeaway
The NCJW Traveling Players' visit to the Kennedy School demonstrates the power of community-based initiatives that promote inclusion, empathy, and friendship for individuals with special needs. Their long-running project serves as an inspiring example of how organizations can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve.
