Made Local with Leon Ford, presented by Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures

An Unspeakable Hope by Leon Ford is an unforgettable and stirring memoir in the vein of Free Cyntoia, Just Mercy, and The Sum of Us that both inspires and upends our understanding about the future of policing in the United States.

In 2012, nineteen-year-old Leon Ford was shot five times by a Pittsburgh police officer when racially profiled during a traffic stop. Waking in the hospital, he faced two life-changing realities: he was a new father, and he was paralyzed from the waist down.

Ford reveals how he faced these truths and discovered the power of forgiveness and letting go of his hatred and shares how his harrowing experience inspired his commitment to social activism. In the wake of countless similar shootings across the country over the years, he has dedicated himself to bridging the gap between the police and the communities they are supposed to serve.

With his compassionate voice, Ford offers fresh advice for social change and demonstrates how we can come together to end police brutality and heal as a country by “Leading with love. Starting compassionate conversations even with individuals and systems that have caused you pain. And making your pain purposeful.”

Leon Ford, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, international speaker, community organizer, and activist who has devoted his life to the betterment of his community and ending police brutality. He is the cofounder of The Hear Foundation, an organization that brings community leaders, Pittsburgh police, and residents together to build a safe, thriving community for all. He executive produced the Cannes Film Festival award-winning documentary Leon in 2019 and is a member of The Aspen Institute’s Inaugural Civil Society Fellowship.

The lecture will be held at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall on Thursday, May 18 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Registration for this event is free.