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
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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
