You Deserve It All: Leadership Lessons from Kendrick and the Streets of LA

I'm not here to make fun of Drake or Lil' Wayne and their recent behavior, but we need to talk about my favorite rapper, Pulitzer Prize-winner Kendrick Lamar. There’s a moment in K-Dot’s brand new?GNX?album, particularly on "Man at the Garden," where he hears a whisper from God saying, “You deserve it all.” It’s not an affirmation of greed or ego; it’s a declaration of humanity's inherent worth. But here’s the thing—“you” isn’t singular. It’s collective. It’s us. And if we all deserve it all, why does Los Angeles County still carry the unbearable weight of over 70,000 unhoused individuals fighting for basic human rights like shelter and safety?

This past Thanksgiving weekend, I stood on Skid Row, face to face with the crisis we talk about but rarely confront head-on. It was 55 degrees, but it might as well have been below freezing in my soul. I saw?my people—overwhelmingly Black and brown—lined up at The Midnight Mission for a hot meal, clutching to dignity in a city of endless contradictions. Los Angeles, the city of stars, dims the light of its most vulnerable every single day.

At the Midnight Mission, I joined my brothers to serve food and share a few conversations. The Mission, a cornerstone of compassion since 1914, operates on a simple but radical principle: dignity. Their programs fuse care, accountability, and resources, offering a path to self-sufficiency for men, women, and children. And still, it’s not enough. The scope of their work is heroic, but we all know this crisis is bigger than any one organization can solve alone.

That night, as I listened to Kendrick’s lyrics swirling in my head, I realized we’re not waiting for the next MLK, the next revolution, the next anything. The revolution is here. It’s us. And if you lead—whether in healthcare, tech, education, or any sector—you have the power to make seismic shifts. The only question is:?Will you?

Leadership Beyond the Office

In?GNX, Kendrick doesn’t just ask us to listen; he calls us to reflect. What does it mean to deserve it all? For me, it means we must lead with a sense of accountability, not just to our teams but to our communities. Being a “boss” isn’t just about decisions made in the boardroom or living up to the expectations of Rick Ross. It’s about taking your resources, influence, and network into the streets where they’re most needed.

As leaders, we must confront the stark reality: California’s housing crisis is not abstract—it’s here, and it’s deadly. Over 181,000 people are unhoused in California, and nearly 30% of them are in Los Angeles. These are not just statistics; these are human beings who deserve safety, shelter, and dignity.

When Kendrick says “you deserve it all,” he’s not just talking about material wealth. He’s talking about the essentials of life: a warm place to sleep, a community that uplifts, and an opportunity to thrive. These things should be baseline, not aspirations, and my dear readers, we are all in positions that can end homelessness. Period.

The Cost of Inaction

It’s easy to be paralyzed by the scale of this crisis. But the cost of inaction is too high. As I served meals at the Mission, I spoke to unhoused Angelenos who said over and over, “I just want a chance to get off the streets.” Their words hit me hard. The myth that people “choose” to live this way is exactly that—a myth.

So why aren’t we doing more? The government isn’t moving fast enough, and systemic failures are leaving too many people behind. As business leaders, nonprofit executives, and community organizers, it’s on us to step in where traditional systems fail, even if by small tokens or partnerships.

We need to ask ourselves,?What can I do today to help? What can my organization do to make a tangible difference??Because if we’re not using our platforms for social change as well as revenue generation, then what’s the point?

Five Ways Leaders Can Help

Here are five actionable ways leaders can address the housing crisis and uplift our communities:

1. Leverage Your Network:?Partner with local organizations like the Midnight Mission, TDD Supportive Living (with Deborah Roberson ), and Homeless Health Care Los Angeles , to offer resources, volunteers, or funding. Collaboration amplifies impact.
2. Create Job Opportunities:?Develop programs that provide employment pathways for unhoused individuals, including training, mentorship, and support like the work being done at TTC College and LOS ANGELES CENTER FOR ACOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE .
3. Advocate for Policy Change:?Use your influence to lobby for housing initiatives, tenant protections, and funding for affordable housing.
4. Offer Space:?If your business has unused office space, consider converting it into temporary shelters or resource hubs.
5. Commit to Inclusion:?Ensure your hiring practices are inclusive of people with lived experiences of homelessness, providing them a second chance at stability. (Message me if your company needs consultation in this area.)

Revolution of Heart, Love, and Grace

As Kendrick’s words echoed in my mind, I kept coming back to this truth: leadership is not about perfection; it’s about action. It’s about showing up, even when the problems feel insurmountable.

We’re not going to solve this crisis overnight, but we can start, as a community of leaders. By aligning our actions with our values, we can create ripples that turn into waves. This isn’t just a call for charity; it’s a call for justice. We need to get people home, educated, supported, and well.

Maybe Kendrick’s right. Maybe we?do?deserve it all. But if we’re not building a world where everyone can say that—then we’re not doing enough.

At Golden Global Enterprises , 2025 will be a year of direct action and collaboration. We’re committed to working with organizations, companies and leaders who share our vision of ending homelessness in Los Angeles and beyond. If you want to join this movement, reach out.

Let’s rise together, not as individuals, but as a collective force for good.

Be Revolutionary. Be Courageous. Be Healing.

Be Healed.

Dr. Golden