Today we’d like to introduce you to Zee Kennedy.
Hi Zee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I became my sister’s guardian at just 19 years old, something I never saw coming. The day before, I received a call about her situation. No details, just a sense that something was deeply wrong. When I arrived in court, her court-appointed guardian stepped down, and the plan was to send my sister to a psychiatric facility. Within minutes, the judge asked if anyone was willing to take over. My heart was racing. I was terrified and unprepared, but I knew I couldn’t let her face this alone. So, I stood up.
That was nearly 17 years ago. At the time, there were very few programs for adults with special needs once they aged out of educational services at 26. After that point, options are scarce, leaving many individuals isolated at home. This not only affects them but their families too. In which, many parents are forced to retire early or make impossible sacrifices because there’s simply nowhere for their loved ones to go.
Those early years were incredibly isolating. I had no roadmap and I experienced firsthand how hopeless the system can feel. I didn’t want other families to live with that same fear, the fear of the unknown and of what would happen to their loved ones in the future.
At the same time, I was also personally sick and disabled for nearly 10 years, dealing with countless health issues and surgeries. For years, I relied on a walker and often couldn’t leave the house. That experience gave me a small but powerful glimpse into what my sister felt. Being trapped, alone, and without control. It deepened my empathy and reinforced a constant fear: what would happen to her if something happened to me?
I made myself a promise, that if I got healthy again, I would dedicate my life to creating a space where my sister and others like her could truly thrive. That promise became Exceptional Journeys.
We began as a small, donation-based program, helping families who had nowhere else to turn. Two years later, we partnered with Washtenaw County and are now contracted to provide adult programming funded through Medicaid. Today, we operate two day-program suites offering art, music, cooking, gardening, social groups, and skill-building. Along with events like our annual Fashion Show, Culinary Journeys cooking classes, Community Prom, monthly potlucks, and parent support groups.
Beyond programming, our mission is to fill the gaps within the gaps, to create real change and remind families that there is always hope. Exceptional Journeys was built on the belief that no one should ever feel alone, trapped, or forgotten. Everyone deserves a chance to grow, connect, and belong.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been extremely challenging. Every time I feel like I’ve solved one problem, another one arises. One of the biggest struggles has been the constant gap between need and resources. There are so many families I want to help, but the lack of funding in the beginning made it feel almost impossible to provide the support they desperately needed. Even now, with funding, we still have to turn people away because the demand far exceeds what we can accommodate.
Balancing the growth of Exceptional Journeys while ensuring each individual feels valued, included, and supported is a constant effort. On a personal level, I’ve had to navigate my own health challenges and recovery, all while trying to create a safe, thriving space for others. I have volunteered 3 years of my time, lost many friendships along the way , made many sacrifices, but I was given another chance at a healthy life. Every day since the moment I got better, I have dedicated to this. And I wouldn’t change a single thing.
Despite the obstacles, these struggles have also fueled my determination. Every setback has reinforced why this work matters, helping families feel hope, giving individuals a place to grow and connect.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but every challenge has made the victories that much more meaningful.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Exceptional Journeys is a community center and day program for adults with special needs. A safe, inclusive, and empowering space where individuals can grow, connect, and thrive. We specialize in programs that go beyond traditional care: art, music, cooking, gardening, social groups, life skills, friendship-building, and community outings. Our focus is on creating opportunities for independence and joy.
What sets us apart is that we create what doesn’t exist. Families are deeply involved in everything we do: from our events and potlucks to volunteer work and program planning. Our community truly supports one another, and members who were once isolated at home now have a place to explore and grow.
We are not just service providers, we’re advocates. We connect families with resources, share knowledge, and fight for long-term solutions. Our vision is to expand nationwide so that every adult, and eventually every age group, has access to a safe, inclusive space. Every county and state faces this same challenge, and we want to be part of the solution.
Above all, Exceptional Journeys is about hope. Hope kept me alive when things were hardest, and now it’s what we give to others. Our center is not just a program, it’s a home, a family, and a promise that no one will ever be left behind.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Resilience. From becoming my sister’s guardian at 19 to battling my own health challenges and building Exceptional Journeys from scratch, I’ve learned that obstacles never stop coming, but resilience allows you to keep moving forward.
It’s also about compassion and perseverance. Resilience gets you through the storms, but compassion gives you purpose. Understanding what families go through and being willing to do whatever it takes to make a difference. That’s what truly drives success.
And of course, teamwork. Exceptional Journeys would not exist without my incredible team, our families, and the community that believes in our mission. It truly takes all of us working together to make this vision a reality.
Pricing:
- Medicaid covers
- Anything outside day programming may have a charge
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Exceptionaljourneys.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17LMQBD9QP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1670864
