Tuesday marks one year since the start of the George Zimmerman trial in Seminole County.
Jury selection began June 10, 2013. It was the start of the trial that would decide Zimmerman's fate. But in the city of Sanford, it meant much more.
The shooting of Trayvon Martin sparked a period of deep division across the country. Sanford religious leaders said it also ignited a discussion about race relations that are still going on today.
"(It) caused many of the spiritual leaders to come out of four corners, if you will, and to develop relationships," said the Rev. Jeff Krall, with Family Worship Center, in Sanford.
Steve Flowers, a Sanford business owner who took part in several News 13 panel discussions during the Zimmerman case a year ago, said he notices one major change.
"I can sit down with a customer and can have an open conversation with them and understand what I'm talking about more than I would a year ago," said Flowers, owner of Superior Auto in Sanford. "And we do that regularly."
Despite progress, though, some said there is still a lot of work to do to bring the entire community together.
Kenneth Bentley, who works as a community educator in Sanford, said he thinks not much has changed when it comes to unfair stereotypes of young black men.
"I don't think we've come far on that at all," Bentley said. "Shortly after Trayvon, we had a young man in Jacksonville (who) lost his life because the music was loud. So, if you got loud music and you’re an African American, you sell dope and you're up to no good. That myth has to be eradicated."
Sanford's religious leaders said the Zimmerman case uncovered deep racial divisions in Sanford that have existed for generations. They said it's now their job to bring people together.
"We're here to bring healing comprehensively and see the city of Sanford restored from its infrastructure starting with the families, the local churches, and the economic part of our community," said Paul Benjamin Sr., the chairman and founder of the Central Florida Dream Center.