About me
Jeanette Laster is the Executive Director for the Human Rights Education Institute serving Eastern Washington, Western Montana and Northern Idaho. She has served in this role 6 years, almost 9 years with this organization. While with HREI, her proudest moments include mentoring 51 high school and college student internships and over 15,000 hours of court appointed juvenile and adult community service supervision per year.
Laster was recruited to North Idaho in 2008 from a Special District municipality under the State of California to participate in the initial development of the Salvation Army Kroc Center Aquatic Department in Coeur d’Alene, adding this aquatic facility as her third Aquatic Center opening from construction phase. She worked three years with United Way as Community Impact Coordinator to align resources and other support for local nonprofits. She has served 35+ years as a Disaster Management, Aquatics, Health, and Safety Services Instructor Trainer for the American Red Cross, currently a registered volunteer with the Greater Inland Northwest Chapter. She is a graduate of Leadership Coeur d’Alene, Advanced Leadership Coeur d’Alene, River City Leadership Academy, and currently participating in the statewide Idaho LEADS leadership cohort with the Idaho Nonprofit Center. She serves on several business and education subcommittees in the region, including Strengthening Families, Children’s Village Assessment Center Committee Vice Chair, Regional Accessibility Committee and Human Rights Consortium to name a few. Laster was named the Soroptimist 2020 Woman of Distinction for community service, 2020 H.A.Y.D.E.N. Chamber award winner for her work in promoting Human Rights in the region, and North Idaho College Community Woman of the Year 2021. Other community activities and volunteerism include Charter member of the Coeur d’Alene Thursday Evening Rotary Club, past president 2 years and District 5080 DEI Task Force; SAGE member of the Lady d’Alene’s; Idaho Nonprofit Center Annual Conference Planning Committee; and North Idaho College Diversity Council. She is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician, Ventura County K9 Search and Rescue team member, and BSA Merit Badge Instructor - Emergency Prep and Aquatics