Social Capital Smart
ABOUT US
WHY WE DO IT
Social capital is the glue that helps people and communities excel. It has powered many of our nation’s greatest successes, and its decline has fueled some of our toughest challenges. Without strong connections to people, institutions, and industries, opportunity dries up.
Social Capital Builders was founded in 2019 by Edward DeJesus to address a critical blind spot in workforce and education systems. For decades, we have prioritized what people know while overlooking how access to opportunity is shaped by connections. This gap has left too many Americans disconnected from the pathways that support upward mobility.
Social Capital Builders provides education services, including training educators, workforce professionals, youth development leaders, justice professionals, policymakers, and other changemakers in the field of social capital. Our programs equip educators and practitioners with practical tools and strategies they can use to help individuals build, understand, and sustain the connections that drive career advancement and economic mobility.
Through professional training, applied learning experiences, and implementation support, we help organizations and individuals become opportunity builders for themselves or the individuals they serve. Our work goes beyond information sharing. It strengthens connection pathways, expands access to industry stakeholders, community leaders, and supports educators and organizations in translating social capital into real world outcomes.
Recognized nationally, Social Capital Builders stands at the forefront of social capital education.
We invite you to join us as a client, partner, or supporter. Together, we can strengthen the education and workforce systems that help people thrive. Reach out at ed@socialcapitalbuilders.com and help advance the power of social capital.
OUR MODEL
Social Capital Literacy
Having the knowledge, confidence, and
competencies to access, develop, and
manage social capital while learning how to
effectively use various skills, tools, and
strategies to grow it.
Social Network Analysis
The skills and knowledge to map opportunity networks and identify patterns of relationships and flows with people, groups, and organizations that can influence economic and employment opportunities.
Social Capital Development
Helping job seekers connect to, and build meaningful, outcome focused
relationships with industry and
community stakeholders.
Community Connected Learning Model
Community Connected Learning (CCL) is a strength-based approach that connects learners to community members and institutions with lived experience and access. It transforms education by turning participants into givers of opportunity through relationship-building and social capital.
GET INVOLVED
Join the Social Capital Smart Program Network
Enrolling in the Social Capital Smart Basic Plan offers comprehensive support for both staff and job seekers:
- 3 Hours of Staff Training: Get started with intensive training sessions designed to equip your team with the fundamentals of social capital.
- Bi-Weekly Staff Coaching: Continue developing your team’s skills with ongoing coaching sessions, ensuring they stay at the forefront of social capital strategies.
- 25 Job Seekers Enrollment in Social Capital Smart: Jumpstart the journey for 25 job seekers, providing them 3 month access to our transformative program.
- 3 Months of Weekly Coaching for Job Seekers, Including AI Coaching Support: Job seekers receive regular personal coaching, supplemented by AI-driven insights, to maximize their social capital development.
- Access to Our Opportunity Pool of Industry Professionals: Open the door to valuable networking opportunities by connecting with our curated pool of industry professionals, sparking the social capital building process for job seekers.
Join us to empower your staff and job seekers with the tools and connections needed for success.