Back home in California, he began to ponder Port Arthur’s problems.

“God would not let my heart rest. All I could think about was why isn’t somebody stepping up to do something. I looked at the man in the mirror and thought, ‘Why not you? Are you helping, are your contributing to that town?’”

Kelley’s community activism didn’t take root overnight. One of his first efforts was to teach drama to young people, but that did not pay the bills. Once again he drew on his electical skills to earn a living, He met and married his second wife, Lydia, and together the couple are raising their blended families.

It has been a dream for the children to see Port Arthur as it was, before unemployment rates were high, before drugs — back when neighbors banded together to form one strong, cohesive community, he said.

Nearly as soon as he moved back to Port Arthur, Kelley said he had an issue with the way the city’s air smelled. He realized many children and adults in the community were suffering from asthma and bronchitis, and that a large number of people were dying from cancer — more than others around the state, he said.ee

He educated himself by talking with others who were concerned about the pollution, and in 2001 joined with the Refinery Reform Campaign to combat local air quality issues.

Kelly has worked with local industry to reduce harmful air emissions, and was appointed in August to serve as a member of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

He organized The Community In-Power and Development Association, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to collecting scientific data about the sources, types and amounts of pollution emitted by local industry. CIDA works to educate low-income Port Arthur residents about air quality issues.

In 2002 Kelley testified before the U.S. Senate on behalf of impoverished communities across the nation and in 2003 received the Environmental Justice Award from Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter. In 2004, he received the Ben and Jerry Award for Environmental Activism.

Kelley has also been instrumental in helping Port Arthur elderly residents with Hurricane Rita repairs, and has helped to organize a music production studio at CIDA offices for the city’s musically talented young people. The goal, he said, is to get youth involved in positive activities, and off the streets.

Wesley Harris, a music producer, has worked with Kelley through the training offered by CIDA.

“When somebody has a vision, and actually goes after that vision and has success in that vision, then they are a role model,” Harris said. “He has been a true godsend, and I just thank God for him, for bringing someone here with such passion for improving the community.”

Contact this reporter at skoonce@panews.com.