Celebrating Abundance: Key Lessons from To Be and Do Featuring De'Amon Harges

On this episode of the To Be and Do podcast, host Philip Amerson sits down with De'Amon Harges, a true champion for community interdependence and the original "roving listener." De'Amon’s work centers around connecting people and cultivating an abundant community—rather than focusing on scarcity. As Phil puts it, De'Amon is “the genuine article,” collecting and celebrating the gifts, skills, and talents of those around him. Their conversation offers insightful perspectives on what it really means to build social capital, nurture relationships, and foster beloved community—especially in places often dismissed as lacking resources.

Here are three key takeaways from this engaging episode:

1. Social Capital is the Currency of Community

De'Amon introduces listeners to the concept of a “social banker”—someone who deals in intangible currencies like relationships, trust, imagination, and networks. He shares stories of neighborhood parties where bringing together people from different backgrounds created meaningful connections and sparked new opportunities. Social banking, according to DeAmon, means recognizing and cultivating the gifts within people and facilitating trust within the community. As demonstrated in his work on the west side of Indianapolis, social capital isn’t just theoretical; it’s the foundation for tangible development projects and revitalization efforts.

2. Challenging Scarcity Thinking through Art and Storytelling

A recurring theme in the episode is this idea of “being schooled in scarcity.” De'Amon describes how communities are often taught to focus on what they don’t have, rather than on their resources and abundance. By deep listening and storytelling—particularly through art projects like photographing neighbors and sharing their gifts—DeAmon and his peers have helped their neighborhood reimagine itself. As he says, “the biggest resource you got is your neighbor.” These acts of storytelling not only help change the narrative for outsiders but help residents see themselves or their communities as part of something greater. This shift in perspective is a critical step toward building an abundant and beloved community.

3. Parties and Imagination Spark Real Change

Throughout the discussion, Phil and De'Amon highlight the importance of celebrations, gatherings, and fostering joy in community-building. De'Amon explains that the process of creating live/work spaces and resident-led development in Indianapolis started with celebrations and naming the gifts within the community. Even serious institutional advancements—like securing a $2.1 million property loan for neighborhood development—stemmed from relationships and trust built through these community-engaged practices. “You really understand scarcity when you start getting brick and mortar,” De'Amon says, but with imagination and interpersonal trust, those hurdles can be overcome.

De'Amon’s story reminds us that abundance is found not just in financial resources, but in the creative energy, stories, and connections of people. As the episode closes, Phil notes how the “currency of imagination” is often missing from traditional power structures, yet is vital to true community transformation.

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to build social capital, reshape community narratives, or spark change with trust and imagination, this episode delivers. Whether you’re a neighborhood organizer, city leader, or simply someone interested in what it means to cultivate an abundant life together, the insights shared by DeAmon Harges are a powerful invitation to see and celebrate the true wealth all around us.