​CAN DO Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization preventing and reducing childhood obesity by addressing systemic barriers to good health in communities with limited resources. 
CAN DO Houston (CDH) works with residents and organizations in our diverse partner network to develop and implement relevant initiatives that build on existing assets and grow community capacity. We target environmental and policy changes to support a culture of health, including:  active living, healthy eating, and on-going civic engagement. 

Our vision is to achieve health equity and ultimately see an end to childhood obesity in Houston.​

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Dr. Beverly Gor describes CAN DO Houston:

Our Approach

First, we learn neighborhoods’ unique resources and challenges through extensive conversations with community members. Then, we mobilize our partners through their diverse projects that support active living, healthy eating, and community building to facilitate tailored solutions that meet the specific needs for each priority neighborhood. We teach strategies and best practices for individuals to advocate for change in their neighborhoods focused on healthy eating and active living. The ultimate goal is for community residents to receive tools to both make behavior changes in their homes and collectively create  change for their entire community. 

The challenge we face

Child obesity rates have tripled over the past 30 years; today, almost one in three children in Houston are overweight or obese (1, 2). Without meaningful action, one third of children born in 2000 or later will have diabetes during their lifetimes (1). Nationwide, direct and indirect costs of diabetes related to child obesity are recently estimated to top $63.14 billion (3).