Coda Rayo-Garza, Research & Data Director

Coda Rayo-Garza serves as Every Texan’s Director of Research and Data. She is a fronteriza born and raised in Laredo, Texas. Coda has worked in the nonprofit and government sectors in various roles and is also a former Lecturer of Political Science. A first-generation college graduate and daughter of immigrants, Coda earned her M.A. in Political Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a B.A. in Philosophy from Texas State University. She is also a current PhD student in Applied Demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her areas of expertise include racial, ethnic, gender, and poverty disparities, especially along border areas. Coda currently serves on the Board of Directors for Communicare Health Centers, Blue Horizon Texas, and Fiesta Wishes (which she co-founded). Coda is also co-authoring a book through Polity Press titled Latinos in the US: Diversity and Change. When she is not working, Coda is spending time with her children and partner, likely at a local park or library.

Coda's Recent Work

Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies

When any family is expecting a new baby, the first hope is that the baby is born healthy. Unfortunately several of Texas’ key indicators show that not all children have

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On the Road Again

One of the things I love about my job is the chance to travel around the state and meet Texans committed to helping other Texans reach their full potential. Last

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CHIP More Kid-Friendly than Marketplace

In November, the U.S. Health and Human Service (HHS) released a report comparing plan benefits and cost-sharing under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to benefits and cost-sharing in plans

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Now is the Time

Speaking on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s

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