Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’ -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As many of you know, today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. What you may not know is today is also a National Day of Service in honor of him. Last year, in recognition of the 25th anniversary of this federal holiday, The Corporation for National and Community Service presented Americans with a challenge: the MLK 25 Challenge.

The MLK 25 was a call to action for all Americans to pledge to take at least 25 actions over the course of a year that would make a difference for others in our communities. And this year, they are renewing that challenge!

I urge you to check out the organization’s website at: mlkday.gov and get involved—whether as a team at work, as a family, or as an individual.

And truly, 25 actions over the course of a year are totally attainable. Your efforts can include anything from donating clothes or food to spending time with folks at a nursing home, picking up trash along a roadside, writing a letter to a deployed soldier, choosing to walk or bike to work once a week, helping an elderly neighbor with yard work, or even just making a little extra food at dinnertime and bringing it to a new mother or someone who’s been ill. If we all pledged to take 25 small actions this year, just think how we could positively affect our communities!

I can think of no better way to practice Servant Leadership than this! Will you accept the challenge?

Joe Kiedinger