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
How to measure poverty? It may seem like a wonky question, but it’s one that matters in gauging the impacts of anti-poverty programs. The official poverty measure was created in
This week, I testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article II on their respective starting-point budget proposals for DFPS. This testimony comes
On January 27, Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson (R – Flower Mound) introduced SB 2, the Senate’s starting-point 2016-17 Texas budget. Two weeks earlier, the Speaker of the House of
New data from the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) show that our state’s growing economy is not providing sufficient economic opportunity for all Texans. CFED’s annual Assets & Opportunity Scorecard
Dear Governor Abbott: Congratulations on your inauguration as the governor of our great state. As a fellow Texan, parent, and attorney, I know we agree that Texas should be the
If I were to write a news headline for my first full year at CPPP, it would be “Dang, let’s dare Texas to be the best!” As we close out
253,000 Texas kids live with family or close friends who have stepped in to care for them when their parents aren’t able. These arrangements, known as “kinship care,” provide stability
As the divisive elections fade and the holiday season approaches, it’s time to put aside our differences and focus on what all Texans believe in. We all want Texas to
More than one million families with young children in Texas are low-income—nearly half of all families with young children. Texas kids growing up in low-income families deserve the same shot
Since Texas children account for nearly one of every 11 children in the U.S., our state government must continue to invest in programs and services that ensure children live in
