Al Butler is the host of the popular radio show "Al B! In the Afternoon..." where he is known for his unique perspectives, sharp humor and strong opinions. Discouraged by their indifference, Albert calls on the twenty-something crowd to step out, step up and get moving. He'll challenge you to not just call for change, but to actually be the difference you wish to see in your society and the global community. This is his call to action.

"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards..."

That's what U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in reference to race in a February speech delivered at the Justice Department in observance of Black History month.

He is absolutely correct, I decided. Although not just in matters of race, but with many of the pressing issues that confront us daily. We are cowards. You and I. And if you are like most folks, you retreat to areas of comfort at the first opportunity, you rarely push yourself and when looking to the future, you look for the road most easily and quickly traversed.

And though at times you have worked quite hard and made sacrifices for your career, when was the last time you did the same for the world around you? You have shown glimpses of brilliance, but a mere flash in the pan is not enough today. One of the most profound lessons from the last presidential election was that regular everyday people, young people - just like you - can change the direction of an entire nation.

Real, significant, long lasting change can be achieved in our lifetime, but only through desire, determination and the will to engage in the hard work that awaits us. You know what I mean; that desire to get your hair and nails done for the weekend, that determination to find the perfect gift for your BFF's birthday and the will to not leave the mall until you have found THE bag! Now you can take the same energy that allows you to watch "Grey's Anatomy" while staying updated on all of your friends' online status changes - take that energy and give us twitter updates from your block organizing meeting or post a note about how many neighbors joined you in the town watch patrol or vlog the transformation of that overgrown lot into a community garden!

As a high school track & field coach, I stress to my students that, yes, there is no "I" in team, but there is a "Me." And it is up to Me to take care of my responsibilities and to work hard to be the best teammate possible. Currently our country is encountering a crisis - the magnitude of which has not been seen in generations. At this time in our nation's history, we require the actions of bold, brave and committed people. Individuals that understand that if we want the world to change it must start with us!

And while we hope those in leadership will be able to create the change we need, we can not simply sit idly by and hope for change. We must be people of action and individual responsibility. There is no question that we must make those in public office and corporate boardrooms accountable for their actions, but that is not nearly enough. We must be proactive in our daily lives. I know. The problems we face seem so large--it can be overwhelming and you want to do more, you just have no idea where to start. Well, you can start by simply doing your very best everyday to be the best global citizen possible.

From there, you begin to think about what your major concerns are and then assess what skills and/or resources you have and how you can apply them in meaningful ways. Whether you are a lawyer, engineer, accountant, IT specialist or just about any field you can think of there is a non-profit organization that could benefit from your expertise. Pick an organization that does work that you believe in and volunteer! You would be amazed at the impact just a few hours a week can make.

Next time you're angry your street is dirty, don't just fire off an email to city government, while you wait for action - you can begin to clean up. If you think children don't have enough good role models, don't wait for Celebs to get their act together, become a mentor. As we wait for Washington and Corporate America to begin to seriously address global warming/climate change you can make sure you and your workplace are doing all that is possible to shrink your carbon footprints.

It is important to understand that what you do in your day-to-day life impacts not only you, your family and your friends - but also your neighborhood, your community, your country and your world. And though it will require a collective effort by all communities across the country, it must first start with YOU. You must ask yourself - Am I doing enough?

So if you desire more for your community, if you are determined to have a healthier world, if you are willing to change the planet one deed at a time... If you are prepared to do the work - please consider this as my challenge to you... To me. To us. The Cowards.

Al Butler is the host of "Al B! In the Afternoon..." and is from Philadelphia. You can get more from Al in the 1st quarter issue of Hipolicy Magazine.