KWST Behavioral Development Group

In 2017, I founded KWST Behavioral Development Group in honor my father Kenneth Wayne Saffold and to honor his legacy of giving back to the community through mentoring, teaching and addressing social and racial justice issues. In 2018, KWST received its 501c3 status, our board was confirmed and we continued pursuing our vision and mission through a grant that impacted over 150 parents and guardians in Minneapolis.

Over the years I have worked in the community and schools and have seen first hand the ongoing inequities that explicit and implicit bias perpetuates. While earning my Master’s degree in Educational Leadership I began to examine the role systemic racism plays in our school to prison pipeline. In particular I studied the mass referrals to Special Education and mislabeling of African American children as having Emotional Behavioral Disorders.  After doing my research, which also confirmed my own experiences both personally and professionally; I felt I had a moral imperative to accelerate the birth of KWST.

The mission of KWST Behavioral Development Group is dedicated to increasing the high school graduation rates of minority males by addressing the disproportionate number of minority children receiving special education services in the Twin Cities and beyond. The vision is that all minority males will be given an equitable educational experience that leads to high school graduation without the threat of being misidentified as requiring special education services.

I am looking to raise money to help successfully launch KWST and advance this vision and mission during the 2018-2019 school year. It is critical for KWST to capitalize on its current momentum and support that it is receiving from funders to full implement our strategies daily. Your contributions will make an incredible impact on KWST and those we serve!

In partnership,

Keary Wayne Saffold M.Ed.