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Reverend James N. McEachran’s lifetime of service to the Eastside community recognized by Balducci with MLK Medal of Distinguished Service
Summary
“Pastor Jim’s leadership has helped make a very real difference in the lives of so many residents of our Eastside communities”
Story
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| Councilmember Balducci with Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service recipient the Rev James McEachran |
During his three decades as pastor at Bellevue’s Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church, the Rev. James McEachran saw the changes occurring around him, most notably the shrinking pool of affordable housing on the Eastside. In response, McEachran helped create what would become the Eastside’s leading affordable housing developer, Imagine Housing. Today, McEachran’s work was recognized by Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Claudia Balducci, who awarded McEachran the Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service.
“Pastor Jim’s leadership has helped make a very real difference in the lives of so many residents of our Eastside communities,” said Balducci. “His commitment to putting his faith into action has resulted in a housing organization being built from the ground up that now serves hundreds of families. He has inspired and educated generations of community members who live their values and work for the common good.”
In response to the growing need for affordable housing on the Eastside, McEachran worked with others in his congregation to organize Saint Andrew’s Housing Group in 1987. What began as Saint Andrew's Housing Group has grown into Imagine Housing, the Eastside’s leading affordable housing organization. Imagine Housing develops affordable rental homes in East King County for residents whose income is below 60 percent of the area median income. They own and manage 14 developments, serving over 1,200 people.
Along with his work with Saint Andrew’s Housing Group, the Rev. McEachran has been an active member of his community in a number of ways. He is a member of, and former Chair of, the Bellevue Human Services Commission, and worked with Bellevue’s Affordable Housing Strategy Technical Advisory Group, which is in the process of implementing a model plan for municipalities to address affordable housing issues. McEachran has also served on the Wilburton Citizen Advisory Committee and was recently appointed to the Emerald Ballet Theatre Board.
The annual presentation of the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service is the Council’s way of thanking those who have made a particularly strong impact on the county and to encourage others to renew their dedication to serve their community.
This is the fourth year Councilmembers have recognized individuals in their districts who have answered the question asked by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “What are you doing for others?” As Senior Pastor of Saint Andrew's, McEachran developed a faith community whose core ministries of housing, food security, and education reached outside their congregation to the broader community. His work and legacy answers Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. question like few others have.