Rick Eichstaedt named the Center For Justice’s Executive Director
He is sometimes referred to as a "pagan demi-god", even by himself, but I know him as Rick, a friend, an inspiration, and somebody to call and complain to because he often has the answer. In fact, he was the first person to take me out on the Spokane River and things haven't been the same since; it only deepened my appreciation for the lifeblood of our region. It was an informative tour as he pointed out the pollution sources and the legal steps to take action, barbed with his irreverent humor and, of course, beer.
To me, he's a Spokane diety.
So I'm thrilled to see him named the Executive Director for the Center For Justice and Spokane is a far better place thanks to the Center's presence - and Rick's, so the move is a perfect fit. From Tim Connor and Anne Vodicka's excellent story on the announcement, titled "It's Rick":
“I’m very passionate about the Center’s work,” Eichstaedt says, “because we touch the lives of many people in a meaningful and positive way. When I meet people in the community and tell them where I work, they share stories with me about how the Center has affected or even transformed their lives. The Center makes a difference on a large scale with the Spokane River and police accountability, but the Center’s not just everything you read about in the paper. We help people get their driver’s licenses back, we help them to stay in their homes, and we help their families stay intact. We really are the community’s law firm.”
After receiving his J.D. and a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources law from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College in 1997, Eichstaedt spent seven years working on a variety of legal issues on behalf of the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho. He serves as a board member of Idaho River United, which works to protect rivers across Idaho, Rick also leads Gonzaga’s Environmental Law clinic.
A formal announcement is planned for Wednesday, February 15th, at the Community Building, 35 W. Main Avenue. Eichstaedt, Sheehan and board members will be available for press interviews at 4:30 followed by a reception at the Saranac Public House from 5 – 7 p.m. In true Rick style, all are welcome to attend.
