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
The COVID-19 recession has millions of people struggling to feed their families, pay rent, and make ends meet. Texas cases of the virus continue to grow with no signs of
At Every Texan, we were pleased to provide the research for the third edition of Economic Issues for Women in Texas, a new study by the Texas Women’s Foundation. This
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools and businesses, federal nutrition programs were key to putting healthy food on the table for millions of Texas households. Before this crisis even started: Texas students ate nearly
The COVID-19 outbreak has reminded us that any one person’s well-being depends on everyone else’s. Texans must work together to help those bearing a disproportionate brunt of the harm caused by the
On March 18, 2020, the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, or HR 6201, into law. It includes important requirements for both public and private insurance to provide access to testing for COVID-19 and testing-related services without out-of-pocket costs. The new law creates several important
As Texas faces the rapidly developing news around COVID-19, we at the Center for Public Policy Priorities are first and foremost focused on the health and safety of our fellow
Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a constitutionally-mandated count of everyone living in the nation. This decennial census counts all residents to determine where to draw congressional voting
The Trump Administration’s discriminatory public charge regulations are now in effect across the nation and at consular offices abroad. This means that on February 24, 2020, the regulations from the
