About Social Capital Builders
About Social Capital Builders
We Believe Success Depends on More Than What You Know.
Whether you're growing a business, advancing your career, preparing students for the workforce, or helping people achieve economic mobility, success depends on more than knowledge.
It Depends on Connections.
Success doesn't depend on what you know alone. It depends on connections.
For too long, businesses have measured revenue, schools have measured learning, and organizations have measured outcomes. Yet few have intentionally measured or developed one of the greatest drivers of opportunity—the quality of the connections people build throughout their lives.
At Social Capital Builders, we help individuals, businesses, and organizations build, measure, and maintain the connections that create opportunity.
That's why we created the Opportunity Navigation System™—the first comprehensive platform designed to help people and organizations intentionally develop the connections that drive career success, business growth, leadership, and economic mobility.
Who We Are
An Impact-Driven Social Enterprise.
Social Capital Builders is an impact-driven social enterprise dedicated to helping people and organizations unlock the power of connections. Recognized by JFF as a pioneer in social capital education, we believe the strongest organizations don't just develop knowledge, they intentionally develop the connections that help people apply that knowledge.
Whether we're working with a business owner expanding their market, a professional advancing their career, or an organization preparing participants for success, our mission remains the same:
Help people build, measure, and maintain the connections that create opportunity.
Schedule a DemoWhy Social Capital Builders?
14 Years. Thousands of People. One Missing System.
14 Years
Of work at the intersection of research, policy, and practice.
Thousands
Of individuals guided toward stronger opportunity networks.
Hundreds
Of businesses, schools, workforce and community organizations served.
Along the way…
We discovered something surprising.
Organizations invested heavily in training.
Businesses invested in sales and marketing.
Professionals invested in education and certifications.
But almost no one had a structured system for helping people intentionally build and maintain the connections that create opportunity.
They need a system.
That realization led to the creation of the Opportunity Navigation System™—a first-of-its-kind platform that transforms connection-building from an informal activity into a measurable, lifelong process.
Our Team
The People Behind the System.
Researchers, practitioners, and educators who have spent their careers building the connections that create opportunity.
Edward DeJesus
Founder and CEO
DeJesus is a leading expert on social capital in the United States. For more than 30 years, he has mixed his love for policy, research, and practice by conducting research on effective programs that improve the economic mobility of low-income youth and adults.
He has been a consultant to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the U.S. Dept. of Labor, the Office of Job Corps, YouthBuild USA, the National Guard Challenge Program, the National Education Association, and the AARP.
Charles Dostson
Director – Violence Prevention & Juvenile Justice Programs
Charles is a seasoned mentoring program director. For the past 15 years, Charles has managed large-scale mentoring programs for youth and adults. Charles combines his expertise as a former MST therapist and program manager to provide organizations with the training and support to increase client and community impact.
For the past decade, Charles has specialized in building Credible Messenger mentoring initiatives for various youth justice systems and nonprofit organizations.
Jaracus Copes
Doctor of Education (Ed.D)
Dr. Jaracus Copes is an internationally respected educational leader and serves as an expert trainer with Social Capital Builders. He has led high-impact programs and consulting engagements for global organizations and is widely recognized for transforming innovative ideas into scalable, results-driven initiatives.
He holds advanced degrees from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Eastern University, along with a doctorate from Delaware State University. Dr. Copes brings deep expertise in leadership development, program design, and workforce pathways. His work focuses on equipping professionals, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders with the social capital, strategic networks, and practical skills needed for sustained success.
Davone Freeman
Program Manager
Davone Freeman is the Media and Program Manager at SCB, a role in which he expertly handles a diverse range of media responsibilities. From orchestrating online course materials to capturing live events and managing dynamic social media content, Davone's expertise is pivotal in enhancing SCB's digital presence.
His responsibilities also extend to managing key programs such as the Cash Club, Social Capital Smart courses, and various justice initiatives. As an SCES Specialist, Davone brings a multifaceted skill set as a Videographer and Editor, with over 10 years of experience in writing, editing, and researching a broad range of content.
ABOUT SOCIAL CAPITAL BUILDERS
Who We Are
Social Capital Builders, Inc. (SCB) is animpact driven social enterprise that builds systems to help people access opportunity through connection. We do not offer standalone trainings or one-time experiences. We provide a structured approach that helps organizations consistently guide individuals to identify, build, and maintain connections to the people, organizations, and institutions that shape their futures. Our work is grounded in a simple reality: opportunities appear based on the quality of connections.
Why Social Capital Builders?
Most workforce, education, and justice systems are designed to build skills, not access.
As a result, individuals complete programs with certifications, training, and motivation, but without the connections needed to move forward. The outcome is predictable. Strong effort, limited opportunity.
At the same time, organizations are surrounded by employers, partners, alumni, and stakeholders, but lack a structured way to activate those connections for the people they serve.
This is the gap.
Social Capital Builders exists to close it.
We help organizations move from hoping connections happen to building systems that make them happen.
How We Work: The Opportunity Navigation System
Our Opportunity Navigation System is a structured, data-informed approach that helps organizations turn connection-building into a consistent, measurable practice.
This is not about meeting more people. It is about strengthening access to the right people.
The system focuses on three core actions:
Identify
Build
Maintain
What Makes Us Different
Our model integrates:
- Structured connection-building tools
- Ongoing staff guidance and support
- Measurable tracking of connection strength and access
- Real-time application, not theory
This ensures that connection-building is not left to chance, personality, or one-off events.
Our Focus
We work with workforce programs, education systems, justice organizations, and community-based initiatives that are ready to strengthen outcomes.
Our focus is simple:
Help people move from being trained to being connected.
Help organizations move from delivering services to unlocking opportunity.
EDWARD DEJESUS
DeJesus is a leading expert on social capital in the United States. For more than 30 years, he has mixed his love for policy, research, and practice by conducting research on effective programs that improve the economic mobility of low-income youth and adults. He has been a consultant to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the U.S. Dept. of Labor, the Office of Job Corps, YouthBuild USA, the National Guard Challenge Program, the National Education Association, and the AARP.
CHARLES DOSTSON
Jaracus Copes
Dr. Cera Doering
Dr. Cera Doering is an accomplished education leader with over 20 years of experience as a teacher, instructional specialist, principal, and human resources director. She holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Equity-Centered Leadership and Innovative Change from Marymount University, where her research focuses on transforming educational systems through sustainable social capital leadership and innovation.
Dr. Doering also holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Management from the University of Baltimore and an advanced certification in school administration from Towson University. Her expertise spans instructional excellence, talent development, and system-wide school improvement. Through her work, Dr. Doering is a trusted voice in advancing educational equity, building effective leadership pipelines, and improving student outcomes across diverse school systems.
Cleveland Smith
Demetria Williams
Davone Freeman
Davone Freeman is the Media and Program Manager at SCB, a role in which he expertly handles a diverse range of media responsibilities. From orchestrating online course materials to capturing live events and managing dynamic social media content, Davone’s expertise is pivotal in enhancing SCB’s digital presence. His responsibilities also extend to managing key programs such as the Cash Club, Social Capital Smart courses, and various justice initiatives, showcasing his versatility and commitment to SCB’s mission. As an SCES Specialist, Davone brings a multifaceted skill set as a Videographer and Editor. With over 10 years of experience in writing, editing, and researching a broad range of content, his ability to craft compelling narratives is unparalleled. Davone’s multifaceted expertise makes him an invaluable asset to the SCB team.
ADAM DOUGLAS
SARA KINGSLEY
KIM DOHNER
