Our Story
Rooted in Compassion. Built on Collaboration. Inspired by Community
Sometimes, the most meaningful journeys begin with the determination to bring something important back to life. The story of the Beaverton Resource Center (BRC) began long before its doors officially opened in March 2020. It began with a vision, a community need, and a belief that no one should have to navigate life’s challenges alone.
For more than 27 years, BRC Co-Founder and Executive Director Lisa Mentesana served children and families through the Beaverton School District, working in Title I, special education, and homeless education. During that time, her homeless education office was located within the original Beaverton Family Resource Center, a place where families could connect with essential services, compassionate support, and community resources under one roof.
When funding was reallocated and the original center closed, Lisa witnessed firsthand the tremendous loss to the community. Families who were already facing difficult circumstances once again had to navigate a complicated network of agencies and services to find the help they needed. She knew there had to be a better way. And she wasn’t willing to let that vision disappear.
Lisa reached out to Al Schmitt, then Board Chair of Care to Share, a community food assistance network located on the Holy Trinity campus. Al also managed the Holy Trinity Food Pantry. She asked him to help bring the resource center back to Beaverton. Al shared her belief in the power of community collaboration, and together they set out on a mission to restore and reimagine a place where neighbors could find help, hope, and human connection. It would take seven years of perseverance, planning, relationship-building, and an unwavering commitment to their community to make that dream a reality.
In March 2020, the Beaverton Resource Center finally opened its doors. Just two weeks later, COVID-19 shutdowns brought much of the country to a standstill. What no one could have anticipated was just how urgently the community would need the very services BRC had worked so hard to bring together. In a time of extraordinary uncertainty, the importance of accessible resources, strong partnerships, and neighbors helping neighbors became clearer than ever.
From the beginning, Lisa and Al brought complementary strengths to their shared mission. As Executive Director, Lisa focused on developing community partnerships, connecting services, and building a welcoming environment centered on the needs of individuals and families. As BRC’s founding Board Chair, Al dedicated countless hours to establishing the organizational systems, infrastructure, and technical support necessary to build a strong and sustainable nonprofit.