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Give yourselves a round of applause!
Why? In five short years, your dedication to spreading the word about We Can! has helped it grow from 14 pilot sites to now more than 1,300 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 other nations. 
Without your support, We Can!—which was launched by the National Institutes of Health in 2005—would not have taken root so quickly from coast–to–coast and overseas, winning over community leaders and 45 private– and public–sector national partners to help spread the word about the program. Together, partners and sites touched countless American families by sharing with them the importance of eating right, moving more, and spending less time in front of the screen in order to maintain a healthy weight. To recognize the dedication of the program's community sites, partners, and supporting organizations, We Can! is planning a series of activities, including a video contest, to highlight the efforts to promote a healthy weight in children and families across the country. You can read all about it in the news and events section of the We Can! Web site. But, before you do…
Check out the many updates from community sites and partners in this edition of We Can! in Action. 
Five years since the launch of We Can!, the program now has over 1,300 registered sites, including 23 We Can! Cities and Counties. If you’re interested in increasing your involvement in the program as it moved into its next phase, consider becoming a We Can! City or County yourself!
All across the country, exciting We Can! events have been unfolding:  Atlanta joined the We Can! City program this year, and garnered some local media coverage at their kickoff event.
In cities across the country, including Pittsburgh and Chicago, among others, eager participants heard creative ideas about how to implement the We Can! program—and got the chance to meet other, likeminded community members in the process.
In Nevada, We Can!’s Go, Slow, Whoa chart has a whole new sound—as a song! It even has a music video to match.
Halfway through the year, some We Can! partners have been making a splash.
Brand new We Can! partner SPARK brings not only their expertise on elementary physical activity, but another We Can! curriculum, along with other resources.
A strategy session in the nation’s capital, and another in nearby Delaware, introduced program site leaders, partners, and would-be partners to each other and included a discussion on how to grow the program in a new environment.
A SUBWAY® restaurant franchise owner in northern Georgia is supporting a local site in bringing We Can! programming to their community.
We Can! Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition, We Can!, and the We Can! logos are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS). |  | | Summer's here, and community sites are ramping up their programming: In Nogales, Arizona, the Mix It Up program is using We Can! messages and materials in new nutrition classes designed for food-stamp eligible local residents.
 In West Virginia, a
We Can! site is reaching out to local Latinos with customized, Spanish-language We Can! classes that involve the whole family.
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We Can! has recently introduced the Community of Practice portal, a forum for community sites, partners, and other health professionals to interact and exchange knowledge and experience.
Two new We Can! articles about staying healthy throughout the year were recently published in media outlets across the country. One article focuses on the hidden costs of pinching pennies with fast food, while the other offers suggestions on ways to revitalize those New Year's resolutions. A third new matte article was posted as well—all about the American Indian quest for a healthy weight. You can download them yourself to help spread the word!
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 | Now that you’re revved up about the news that We Can! just turned five, take that energy outdoors with the following tips for the whole family. (Just be sure to use sunscreen!) Tip #1: If it’s nice out, why not walk or bike with the kids to the playground or the pool, instead of driving them? And do the same on your way to work! And, if you can’t avoid using the car, don’t fret: you can always create a car-washing contest with the kids, with a prize for whoever finishes washing and buffing their section/side of the car the quickest. Tip #2: Do you know the location of your nearest pool? Closest soccer field? Free public tennis court? Find out and give the whole family a summer jump start by trying new sports and other physical activities. And, don’t forget that your local library offers a wealth of resources at no cost, including exercise DVDs and all sorts of classes. As an added bonus, try to walk to the library to check out these options! Tip #3: Keep your eyes open for free physical activities hosted by community and other outlets over the course of the summer. Check out walking and hiking options at nearby public parks. Find out what resources local schools offer, such as a track that’s open to the public for running and walking. Community centers and local Web sites are great ways to find out more about activities available in your area. |  |
| How Communities can get involved | | How Organizations can get involved | | Visit http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov | | Call 1-866-35-WECAN | |  |
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