‘A thriving community.’ This west Fort Worth neighborhood named best in the country

A Fort Worth neighborhood filled with pride and love for one another has been named the best neighborhood in the country.

The Lake Como neighborhood received the honor in May during the Neighborhoods USA conference in Lubbock. It also earned first place honors in the social revitalization category.

Carol Brown and Kendra Williams represented the neighborhood at the conference. Brown, who was the Como Community Center coordinator for 35 years and retired in 2015, said she hopes the honors will highlight Como’s efforts and activities to improve the quality of life for its residents in the west Fort Worth community.

“It’s a wonderful community, it’s a thriving community,” Brown said. “It keeps growing but people on the outside don’t understand that it keeps growing. And the more we turn out our wonderful youth, the better it can be.”

The Lake Como Neighborhood Advisory Council works to promote civic spirit, improve public services and work with governments on neighborhood issues. The council was formed by the Citywide Citizen Participation Plan, which encourages residents to participate in the decision-making processes around the city.

In March, Como won Neighborhood of the Year at the 2023 Fort Worth Neighborhood Awards . It also received the Spirit of Fort Worth Award for its Lake Como Juneteenth Celebration run by the organization Richelle’s Heart and the Mayor’s Civic Engagement & Community Collaboration Award for its Back to School Fair, run by Como Lions Heart . Additionally, Brown won Neighbor of the Year.

As the winners of Fort Worth’s Neighborhood of the Year, Como was able to compete in Lubbock against 10 other communities. Representatives presented information about the Juneteenth celebration, the community’s history and how the advisory council was started.

The nonprofit Neighborhoods USA , created in 1975, is committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations by sharing information and highlighting experiences that have built stronger communities.

Brown, born and raised in Como, founded Como’s Lion Heart in the early 1990s. It became an official nonprofit in 2015 to raise money for the community. Como’s Lion Heart provides youth programs, sports and special events, including a Mother’s Day luncheon. It will soon have a college dorm program to provide students necessities, toiletries and decorations for their dorms.

Williams runs her nonprofit Richelle’s Heart in memory of her mother, Richelle Williams. The nonprofit is in charge of the Juneteenth celebration, which includes an annual walk, financial workshop and scholarship award banquet.

The strong Como High School alumni, the historical landmarks of Zion Missionary Baptist Church and Lake Como Cemetery, and the many other nonprofits in the community show that residents want their neighborhood to thrive for centuries to come, Williams said.

“We have to be an example for our youth in order for the community to continue to grow,” Williams said. “If they don’t see people working, trying to make sure that this history doesn’t go by the wayside. They won’t have anything to look forward to when they get older.”