About the NYC Kids Project: NYC Kids Project is a social justice arts organization advocating empathy, acceptance, and inclusion. Performances and classroom programs use theatrical puppets, storytelling, sign-language, adaptive equipment and facilitated dialogue to focus on character development and anti-bullying strategies. Children are encouraged to examine attitudes surrounding disabilities and differences while fostering empathy and an awareness of our commonalities. History of the Project: NYC Kids Project has a long and distinguished record of service, having been established by the NY State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities in 1981. As the mainstreaming of students become more prevalent in NYC schools and people of differing abilities became more visible throughout the city, it became apparent that children of all abilities needed to be taught to be more inclusive. To date, more than one million children, in all five boroughs, have seen our performances. NYC KP has received the following awards: L’Arche Foundation Educational Travel Award, for travel to Poland, to teach Kids Project techniques - 2011, 2014 Participant in Gracie Mansion Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day - 2007-2013 NYC Proclamation by Mayor Michael Bloomberg - 2007 The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Excellence Award - 2002
