March 13, 2019
Coda Rayo-Garza, Senior Director of Research & Data
Coda Rayo-Garza, PhD, serves as the Senior Director of Research and Data at Every Texan. A fronteriza born and raised in Laredo, Texas, Coda is a daughter of immigrants and a first-generation college graduate. Her diverse career spans the nonprofit and government sectors, including previous work as a Lecturer of Political Science.
Coda earned her B.A. in Philosophy from Texas State University, followed by an M.A. in Political Science and a PhD in Applied Demography from the University of Texas at San Antonio. In addition to her research, she is a co-founder of Fiesta Wishes and serves on the Board of Directors for CommuniCare Health Centers. She is also the co-author of Latinos in the US: Diversity and Change (2nd Edition), published by Polity Press.
Where to find me during session: Crunching numbers and defending survey data
My surprising hobby: I play the drums
Coda's Recent Work
2020 Census: Top 5 Ways You Can Plug-in
The 2020 Census is just around the corner. To make sure Texas doesn’t fall behind, there are many ways you can do your part by plugging-in. Texas stands to gain
March 11, 2019
What Cities and Counties Can Do to Prepare for the 2020 Census
In less than a year, the Census Bureau will carry out the constitutionally mandated count, or the Census, of the nation’s residents. The Census is supposed to count everyone living
March 11, 2019
Do jobs in your Texas community pay enough?
Though our state is a national leader in job creation, too many Texas jobs don’t pay enough to support a family. Today, CPPP analyst Jonathan Lewis testified in the House
February 25, 2019
Grading the New School Finance Plan from Texas House Democrats
Money matters in education, and it’s good to see proposals at the Texas Capitol to boost support to the 5.4 million public school students in our state. Governor Abbott declared
February 22, 2019
February 11, 2019
The 2020 Census & Undercounting Young Latino Children
Note: Please click here for more Texas-specific information and resources on the 2020 Census. Very young children, ages 0-4, have historically been undercounted in past Censuses. In the 2010 Census,
February 5, 2019
Where Things Stand on Public School Finance
As 2018 winds down, there’s been a flurry of activity on the Texas Public School Finance Commission. At CPPP, we have been tracking the commission’s work all year, testifying at
December 13, 2018
Dangers of Short-Term Health Insurance Plans
Flu season is here again in Texas. If you or a loved one gets sick, you would expect your health insurance plan to cover your prescriptions. Maybe you are trying
December 6, 2018