Turning Pain into Purpose | Leon Ford | TEDxPittsburgh

Leon Ford was shot 5 times by a police officer during a seemingly routine traffic stop. In this talk, Mr. Ford shares how working to develop an understanding of the policing system led him to compassion and also to ideas to improve the system and to educate others. At 25 years old, Leon Ford has become a community leader, social activist, motivational speaker, mentor, artist, and symbol of distinction in a very short amount of time. Despite his youth, Leon's story encompasses more triumph than the majority may encounter within a lifetime. On November 11, 2012, Leon was shot five times and paralyzed by a Pittsburgh police officer during a seemingly routine traffic stop. Instead of facing this tragedy with a broken spirit, Leon went on to develop a network of social reform and fight to see his, and countless others like him receive justice. For the average person, this devastating event could, understandably, evoke a lifetime of post traumatic response to a familiar narrative in the African American community but Leon's brilliant resilience served as a revolutionary act. Today, Leon travels the country working to be a catalyst for change. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx