Kevin and his wife Dominique work with other local conservationists to clean up San Francisco's Ocean Beach.

Public service isn't just a day job for Kevin Shelley, it's a way of life. In fact, it's also a family tradition.

The son of Jack Shelley, the veteran labor leader who went on to become Mayor of San Francisco, and longtime civic activist Thelma Shelley, Kevin grew up believing it was possible to make a difference.

He then set out to prove it.

As a young law school graduate, Kevin served on the Congressional staff of the late, legendary Rep. Phil Burton in Washington, where his skill, energy and passion quickly identified him as a rising political star. But Kevin's next ambition wasn't running for office -- it was running a non-profit.

Taking the helm of San Francisco Alive, an organization then known for graffiti clean-up, but it wasn't long before Shelley expanded the group's mission to include environmental restoration and job creation -- running vibrant programs throughout the City's Bayview, Tenderloin, Haight-Ashbury and Bernal Heights neighborhoods.

It was there Kevin Shelley learned first-hand that hard work and shared involvement -- the spirit of community activism -- really can make a difference in people's lives.