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

Op-Ed: Put Texas Kids First

There are more than 73 million children under 18 living in the U.S., and over seven million of them call Texas home. The biennial Texas Kids Count report brings together

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Data Brief: Indigenous Peoples Day

We celebrate and honor the past, present, and future contributions and lives of Indigenous People in Texas and across the nation on Indigenous Peoples Day. Newly released data from the

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Data Brief: Hispanic Heritage Month

View more data about the diverse Hispanic/Latino population in Texas here. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the cultures, histories, and contributions of Americans who trace their roots to Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean,

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What a Census Undercount Means for Texas

The Census Bureau has released national estimates for undercounts and overcounts in the 2020 Census. The results show populations that have historically been undercounted, such as children and Hispanic, Black,

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