In Ferguson, Mo. residents are hopeful for the future, as the town of about 21,000 looks at changes both big and small a year after the death of Michael Brown. Many in Ferguson still lament the court's decision not to indict Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot and killed the unarmed teen. But a lot has changed since the U.S. Justice Department's critical review of the city's police and municipal court system led to the resignation of top city officials, according to ABC News.
The city brought in a new judge, city manager and police chief on an interim basis. The new shifts have resulted in a more diverse group of political leaders, who more equally represent the city's population. Although 67 percent of the city's population is black, most of the political leaders and a police force at the time of the shooting were white.
Now, with the hiring of City Manager Ed Beasley, Police Chief Andre Anderson and the election of two new city council members, black officials hold a deciding stake in half of the city's council, a first in Ferguson history, according to USA Today.
The power of the Michael Brown incident also sparked more civil activism, doubling the eligible voter turnout. The police force is attempting to make changes as well but the task may proove more challenging.
Out of the 53 officers in uniform last year, only three were black. Now, five out of the department's 50 officers are black.
