Man of the People
 
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Man of the People

Henry Carrasco

Henry Carrasco

Chula Viña - Owner

As a young man growing up in Salinas, Henry Carrasco fondly remembers the many mentors who guided him, “I remember them giving great advice and pointing me in the right direction. This community raised me and I like giving back to it.” After graduating from North Salinas High School, Henry attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California and soon after returned to his hometown of Salinas where over the last forty years he’s served as a pillar of the community.

From his time as a young high school student, Carrasco’s involvement with the Monterey County Fair is something near and dear to him. He fondly remembers participating as a student in animal and vegetable judging and was later appointed by Governor Pete Wilson as a member of the fair board.

The Monterey County Fair holds a special place in Carrasco’s heart as it's an event that’s helped bridge a cultural gap between Salinas and coastal Monterey. For many years, Henry was a Tae Kwon Do leader and took his students to the fair to showcase their talents and expose them to the diverse culture of the event.

Helping youth is a fundamental tenet for Carrasco having spent years volunteering at a local juvenile hall, “We spent time with the kids, talking about opportunities and ways to get their lives back on track. Years later I’d see them out in the workforce, they’d remember me and were always grateful for the time we spent with them. That’s so rewarding for all parties involved.”

Currently, Henry is volunteering with an organization providing legal services for seniors, protecting them from the barrage of scams they’re susceptible to these days. Henry became involved because of an incident with an elderly family member and was encouraged by a judge to help out with the organization.

His work in the greater Salinas community is invaluable and he humbly admits,

“I’ve had a lot of people help me along the way in my career and I just like to pay that forward.”