2013 Lege–SNAP and WIC
By Jeanie Donovan More than 3.5 million Texans, including nearly 2 million children, rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure that they don’t go to bed hungry
January 15, 2013
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.
Where to find me during session: Crunching numbers and defending survey data
My surprising hobby: I play the drums
Coda's Recent Work
2013 Lege–Universal School Breakfast
Last school year Texas’ school cafeterias served an astonishing 300 million breakfasts. But remarkably, that only covered 60 percent of the students who received free or reduced price lunches during
January 13, 2013
A Different Look at How to Measure Poverty
Most of us know what poverty “looks like”—such as being homeless or hungry. But what we may not realize is that poverty is a specific income line defined by the
January 3, 2013
Big Ideas to Make Our Kids, Texas, the Southwest, & the U.S. Stronger
First Focus, a bipartisan advocacy organization that works to make children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions, has released a new report called Big Ideas: Children
December 24, 2012
“A Fighting Chance” Is Now Online
Last week, our documentary “A Fighting Chance” aired on KLRU-Austin PBS, followed by a moving Civic Summit panel discussion about the struggles Texas families face just to meet their basic
December 18, 2012
OPED: In Texas, Everyone Deserves a Fighting Chance
This weekend, we contributed a piece to the Austin American-Statesman’s legislative series. You can read the full oped below, which originally ran in the Statesman on Sunday, Dec. 9: Sarah
December 10, 2012
High Youth Unemployment is Unaffordable for Texas and the Nation
By Andrea Mayo In 2011, nine percent of Texas teenagers age 16 to 19 were neither in school nor in the workforce. Unless Texas takes action, these young people will
December 3, 2012
Election Day is about kids
By Frances Deviney Election Day pretty much feels like a day dedicated to adults. Only adults can register to vote. Only long-time adults tend to run for public office. And,
November 6, 2012
What Is the Big Idea, Anne?!
By Frances Deviney Well, Anne’s at it again! Our associate director Anne Dunkelberg has been sought out for her expertise on health policy in Texas for a new series of
October 23, 2012
New School Meals: Nutritious and Delicious
By Jeanie Donovan Going through the cafeteria line this year, Texas kids will notice some major changes to the foods on their school lunch tray. Thanks to the new USDA
October 19, 2012