From Hustler to Steelhead Savior

He was stabbed tackling an armed robbery suspect on a California street and won a Presidential “Point of Light” award for helping police with drug busts, but what occupies the time of ex-card shark Herman Garcia these days is saving steelhead salmon — 23,000 of them according to an article by Paul Rogers. His non-profit group CHEER, or Coastal Habitat Education & Environmental Restoration, pulls trash out of creeks that are prime habitat for spawning steelhead. “He took a job as a program specialist at First 5, a Santa Clara County program that runs childhood health programs with tobacco tax funds. As part of his job, Garcia drives young mothers to the doctor. He helps them fill out insurance forms. And he uses every vacation day to rescue fish.” In The Mercury News.