On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, The Hear Foundation brought The Weight of Forgiveness to the stage of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in downtown Pittsburgh.
Written by Hear Foundation CEO Leon Ford, The Weight of Forgiveness is Leon’s first play. It is a two-person conversation between Leon and the officer who shot him, drawn from a real conversation the two men shared. Leon wrote both sides of that conversation, including the officer’s perspective, and the result is an honest, 80-minute look at harm, accountability, and what it takes to move forward.
Forgiveness for Your Own Sake
For Leon, forgiveness is not about whether the other person deserves it. It is about choosing to live without judgment and setting down a weight that no one should have to carry forever. Writing the play meant reliving that night and that conversation, and bringing it to the stage is an act of courage and of gratitude to everyone who has walked this journey with him.
The evening served three purposes at once: a fundraiser for The Hear Foundation, a powerful night of theater, and the beginning of a long-term teaching tool for officers, students, and institutions working to build safer communities. The performance also took place the same week Pittsburgh hosted the Eradicate Hate Global Summit, joining a citywide conversation about bridging the gaps between us.
The Cast
- Dionysius Westbrook as Leon Ford
- Michael Patrick Trimm as Officer Derbish
The Creative Team
- Leon Ford, Playwright
- Mark Clayton Southers, Director and Scenic Design
- Lorne Svarc, Dramaturg and Producer
- Marcus Betts, Consultant
- Samuel GC Munoz, Movement Coordinator
- Madeleine Steineck, Lighting Design
- Wayne Gaines, Sound Design
- Willa “Katy” Cotten, Costume and Makeup
- Michele Lee Betts, Stage Management
Special thanks to Brian Burley for serving as Master of Ceremonies.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
This night would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors: The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Harnisch Foundation, Stevens & Lee, The Julie Rost Team, Duquesne University, Penn Hills, Duolingo, and PACT: The Power to Act. Thank you to every sponsor, partner, and guest who filled the room and invested in this work.
Photos From the Night
The Weight of Forgiveness is only the beginning. Stay connected with The Hear Foundation for news on future performances, student and officer programming, and ways to support the work of building safe, healthy communities across Pittsburgh.
