Exploring Belonging, Gifts, and Philanthropy with De’Amon Harges

Exploring Belonging, Gifts, and Philanthropy with De’Amon Harges on the “To Be and Do” Podcast

This week’s episode of the “To Be and Do” podcast connects deeply with the roots of community wisdom and the power of collective action. Hosted by Philip Amerson, the episode features De'Amon Harges, famously known as the original “roving listener.” Their conversation traces De’Amon’s personal history, his connection with the Broadway Church, and the founding inspiration for the Learning Tree. It’s a candid look at how personal stories, gifts, and relationships shape and transform neighborhoods for the better.

Three Key Takeaways from This Episode:

1. The Value of Birth Stories and Formation Spaces

One of the most poignant moments in the episode is De'Amon Harges' reflection on the importance of learning people’s “birth stories.” He shares how his own family migrated from the South to the North, facing new forms of brutality yet carrying forward traditions of resilience, creativity, and hope. These stories reveal the formation of individuals and communities—how struggles and gifts pass from generation to generation.

De’Amon’s recollection of his grandfather planting a tree upon his mother’s birth, and gathering community around it, beautifully illustrates the idea that every gift and every life has sacred value. It’s a call to remember the power of origin stories—not just as personal history, but as the foundation for building meaningful community practices.

2. Pivoting Churches and Organizations Toward Asset-Based Neighboring

The episode explores the pivotal shift in how churches and organizations approach community: moving from a needs-based to a gifts-based mentality. Philip Amerson and De'Amon Harges discuss their work at Broadway Methodist and Broadway Christian, reimagining how faith institutions connect with their neighborhood. Instead of simply offering resources to fill gaps, they began actively seeking, affirming, and celebrating the talents, dreams, and passions of local residents.

This approach challenges traditional models of charity and philanthropy by placing neighbors—not just experts or service providers—at the center of change. De’Amon’s role as a roving listener evolved into helping institutions understand how to become good neighbors, turning the focus to mutual delight, economy, and shared creation.

3. Redefining Philanthropy and the Power of Collaboration

A takeaway that stands out is how De’Amon and his collaborators re-worked the model of distributing resources. Instead of traditional grants with complicated requirements, they opted for a system that asked community members to contribute expertise and collaborate, with an expectation of learning through failure. Their rules: never do the work alone, avoid anything obscene or illegal (with some challenge to the concept of “legality”), and embrace failure as a necessary part of growth.

What’s especially compelling is the insight that “the real philanthropists” are not foundation executives, but the ordinary people investing their time, money, and heart into their neighborhoods. By encouraging institutions to share power and resources directly, and by funding grassroots creativity, the Learning Tree and its partners model a new kind of philanthropy—one grounded in relationship, imagination, and abundance.

Final Thoughts

This episode of “To Be and Do” is a journey into the heart of what makes communities thrive: story, connection, and the celebration of gifts. De'Amon Harges reminds us that being a good neighbor isn’t just about meeting needs—it’s about honoring the abundance already present among us. As Philip Amerson concludes, there’s enough here to inspire us for a lifetime.

If you haven’t listened yet, don’t miss it—it might just change the way you see the world around you.