It is with great pride that I introduce Every Texan’s 5-Year Impact Report, highlighting our journey moving through the challenges of 2020 with commitment to shaping a more equitable and inclusive Texas.
Our Legacy of Advocacy
Originally founded by the Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, Texas in 1985, Every Texan has worked toward a vision of a more just and equitable Texas for over three decades. We began as the Benedictine Resource Center and later became the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) before officially rebranding as Every Texan in 2020. Over the years, we’ve become an independent, tax-exempt organization, advocating for expanding access to health care, public education, improving fiscal policy, and broadening economic opportunity for all Texans.
Our history is rooted in a passion for social justice, and we continue to pursue solutions that help strengthen our state and empower every Texan. We’re proud to be an established, centralized resource for a broad spectrum of social justice issues, offering reliable, unbiased research and analysis that drives positive policy change. Our focus has always been on creating genuine solutions for our community, guided by a clear and focused mission to benefit every Texan.
From Challenge to Change
In 2020, we faced a landscape full of uncertainty, with challenges that tested our resilience. We reaffirmed our mission with a powerful new credo: Social Justice Requires Public Policy. We recognized that strengthening public policy is one of the most effective ways to ensure every Texan has the opportunity to thrive. That year marked a turning point for Every Texan, when we realigned our mission to better meet the needs of the communities we serve.
Strategic Shifts and Bold Moves
In 2021, we made bold decisions to strengthen our internal culture and broaden our impact. We ratified our unionization (September 2021), I came in as the new CEO, and we launched a new strategic plan that expanded our focus to include community engagement. This shift enabled us to center the voices of those most impacted by policy, build stronger connections between grassroots organizations and statewide advocacy efforts, and begin driving narrative change on key issues affecting Texas communities.
Tangible Impact and Measurable Growth
From 2022 to 2023, we focused on translating our vision into measurable results. We welcomed our first Director of Equity and Learning to actuate our commitment to transformative leadership. Our work in marathon legislative sessions led to significant successes, and the metrics in this report reflect the ongoing impact of our policy work. Every Texan has consistently provided rigorous research and sound policy analysis to drive change and ensure that every Texan has an opportunity to thrive.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
As we look to the future, we are more committed than ever to advancing policies that expand opportunity and equity for all Texans. With the launch of the People’s Budget and key initiatives for the 2025 Legislative Session, we are poised to continue advocating for common-sense, evidence-based policy solutions. Through our pillars of public policy research, analysis, education, and advocacy, we will continue to build momentum for change, strengthen partnerships, and push for solutions that benefit everyone in Texas.
This report is a reflection of our ongoing journey—a snapshot that highlights both the challenges we’ve overcome and the impact we’ve created together. I invite you to explore our story, celebrate our progress, and join us as we work together to build a Texas where every voice matters.
Thank you for your continued support and belief in our vision. Together, we are imagining a better future and actively creating it.
Adelante,
In 2020, Every Texan rebranded from the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP) to reaffirm our connection to our roots and values. For decades, CPPP built a strong reputation as a trusted source for policy research and analysis. The rebrand honored that legacy while setting the stage for growth, expanding our focus beyond research to include broader advocacy, deeper community engagement, and narrative change—ensuring we remain a powerful force for progress in Texas.
Alongside the rebrand, Marisa Bono joined Every Texan as CEO to guide a big, bold vision for the future. A civil rights attorney and lifelong advocate for justice and equity, our new leadership marked a pivotal moment—building on our strong foundation and ushering in a more integrated approach to advancing people-centered policy solutions in Texas.
Every Texan and its staff union, Every Texan United, proudly announced the ratification of their first union contract. After advocating for pro-worker policies at the state level, Every Texan put the same values into practice at home.
Engaged in staff-wide facilitated discussions and collaborative learning to better integrate equity into our work.
Every Texan formalized community engagement as a key pillar of work, ensuring that our advocacy is both evidence-based and community-driven. Lasting, transformative change requires strong research and the voices of those most impacted by policy decisions. We build collective power to craft policies that truly reflect the needs of Texas communities. Learn more >
Recognizing opportunities to advance equity both internally across Every Texan’s operations and programming and externally in public policy, the organization hired a Director of Equity and Learning.
To activate our commitment to community-driven advocacy, Every Texan established a Community Engagement & Advocacy department to strengthen relationships and ensure our work is responsive to the communities we serve.
We expanded our Research & Data team, enhancing our ability to produce accessible, high quality policy analyses, and added our first Chief of Legislative Affairs role to sharpen our strategic advocacy and expand our influence. These investments reflect our commitment to a more integrated, people-centered approach to policy change in Texas.
After two years of planning and conception, Every Texan formally launched The People’s Budget in collaboration with the statewide coalition Texas For All. This movement activated more than 50 partners and engaged nearly 10,000 Texans in our largest community listening effort to date. We combined grassroots people power with data-driven analysis to ensure that state budget and policy decisions are shaped by those most impacted.
Every Texan led the charge to protect Texans as Texas’ strained eligibility system re-checked eligibility for all 6 million Texans with Medicaid, following a nationwide pause on disenrollments during the pandemic.
For 40 years, Every Texan has been a champion for equity, a trusted voice in public policy, and a driving force for change in our communities. As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the legacy of those who laid the foundation for our work and look ahead to the next 40 years with bold ambition and unwavering commitment.
The landscape of advocacy is ever-evolving, and so are we. In the next 40 years, we will work to forge deeper connections, adapt and respond with greater impact, and innovate more than ever. We will strengthen the bridges between our research, policy advocacy, and community engagement, to connect and reinforce every effort with the others. We will continue to optimize our capacity to meet emerging challenges, center people and communities and move forward with our roots firmly planted in our long-held value system.
The people who believe in Every Texan’s vision mobilize our mission—our supporters, our partners, and the communities we serve drive impact. The road ahead is full of opportunity and, together, we will shape a Texas where every Texan can proudly live, work, and raise a family.
Here’s to the next 40 years!
