Los Angeles Dream Center’s Response to Lockdown
After the pandemic began, Matthew Barnett, the founder of the Los Angeles Dream Center, found himself driving through eerily empty streets. This was just as California’s lockdown order was being implemented.
“They announced that only essential workers were allowed to engage in any activities,” Barnett reflected. “I thought about it and realized we had provided around $1.2 billion in help over the years. I considered myself a key worker.” He added, “So I went in with a bit of optimism, thinking, ‘We’re going to feed people.’ Soon, we started loading food into cars, but many people protested, saying, ‘You can’t do this.’
What followed was a surge of support. The initiative gained traction nationwide, catching the attention of some politicians who had previously advised against such actions. “It became a bit of a spectacle,” he remarked, noting how some politicians tried to show their support in photos afterward.
Through this experience, Barnett noticed what he described as a “culture of fear.” Many in the community were struggling, particularly children living in housing projects, who no longer had social workers checking in on them due to imposed policies.
He witnessed changes in these children; crime rates among youth increased and so did hunger. “We saw pedophiles exploiting families staying home all day,” he pointed out. Moreover, crucial food programs intended to help children were shuttered because of these new regulations.
A host, Ally Beth Stucky, commented on how many policies are devised in the name of compassion. They are meant to aid those who are marginalized but may not be having their intended effect.
Barnett recounted a particularly disheartening comment from California Governor Gavin Newsom regarding drug policy. “He said it’s ‘irresponsible or reckless’ to think someone can live a peaceful life,” Barnett stated, adding that it felt as if the governor had lost faith in the possibility of change.
“When I heard those words, I felt defeated. It seemed to convey a belief that individuals cannot escape their troubles—almost as if it came from a place of despair,” he concluded.
