History

ResourceWest is the result of a collaborative effort of the City of Hopkins, the Hopkins School District, the faith community, area agencies, businesses and many individualsThe story of ResourceWest starts in 1990 when in the words of one of our founding mothers, "ResourceWest grew from the vision of local educators and community members who saw children attending school without adequate school supplies or winter clothing.”
From there principals and counselors at two Hopkins elementary schools invited  members of the business, school and faith communities, city officials,  police and nonprofit representatives, and other community leaders to share their observations and ideas about unmet needs of families in our community.
On the designated day, people from all segments of the community filled the room. In less than an hour, the walls were covered with lists of needs and action ideas. Energy was apparent, and the commitment to meet again was clear. After several more meetings, hundreds of ideas were honed down to just a few areas of focus. The concept of a one-stop resource center serving everyone in the community emerged as a way of meeting a multitude of community needs. The purpose of the proposed center was not to duplicate services, but to assure that families could make the connections to needed services. The idea of ResourceWest was born. Where would it be housed? How would it be funded? How would decisions be made? How could it support, but not duplicate, the work of other organizations? A steering group formed to continue the planning. This group became known as the School and Community in Partnership (SCIP); the Hopkins School District.