James Talarico Worked As ‘Equitable Education’ Consultant at Left-Wing Firm Developing DEI Plans for Texas School Districts

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D.) earned tens of thousands of dollars working as an "equitable education" consultant for a firm that develops DEI plans for public schools in Texas. The firm, MAYA Consulting, described its work as "rooted in our diversity, equity, and inclusion philosophy" and donated to a group working to defund the Austin Police Department, a Washington Free Beacon review found.

Talarico first announced he was joining MAYA, which has since rebranded as VIDA Collaborative, in 2019, writing in a Facebook post that he would be "working with districts, nonprofits, and communities to build excellent and equitable educational opportunities." Talarico worked for the firm until October 2025—one month after he launched his Senate campaign—and earned $83,333.40 from the job last year, according to his financial disclosure.

MAYA, with Talarico's help, worked to bring critical race theory and DEI to Texas schools, particularly during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, when it partnered with public school districts like Snyder Independent School District in West Texas to support "diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts." In Austin, where Talarico lives, it promoted a series of monthly "RaceTalks" organized by the local public school district's "Race Equity Council" that called on parents to "explore" their "pushback and triggers and name systemic barriers that form as a result." The firm also contributed $5,000 to the left-wing nonprofit Austin Justice Coalition around the same time the coalition called to defund the Austin Police Department.

"Our team at MAYA Consulting works to achieve excellent and equitable schools … We believe that our partnership with clients seeks to address the systemic challenges of this moment," the firm's founder, Larkin Tackett, wrote in a June 2020 blog post announcing the donation.

"Nevertheless, as a white, cisgender, straight man, I benefit from and perpetuate white supremacy culture with our clients and partners, and within our own organization," he continued. "As the invaluable Dismantling Racism Workbook points out, 'the longer you swim in the (white supremacy) culture, the more invisible it becomes.' I've been swimming in this culture for 41 years. I recognize these faults within myself and that change begins with me." Tackett went on to say he was implementing mandatory "DEI" and "anti-racism" training for "all MAYA team members," which would have included Talarico.

Talarico's work for MAYA could undercut his attempts to distance himself from the far-left positions he took while working for the firm and serving in the Texas Legislature. Talarico, for example, said in 2019 that putting police officers in schools amounts to "leaning into a culture of violence" but now says he "opposes defunding the police." He also walked back a controversial comment in which he said, "God is non-binary," telling CBS News that the statement was "cringey" and "missed the mark" before pivoting to his "legislative record."

Talarico spokesman J.T. Ennis noted that the Texas Education Agency has awarded contracts to MAYA for initiatives unrelated to equity and said Talarico "has made his positions clear: he opposes gender reassignment surgery for minors, and believes parents have the most important say in decisions about their children. He opposes defunding the police, and has a proven track record sending billions of dollars to support law enforcement."

As a state lawmaker, however, Talarico led efforts to place DEI at the center of Texas schools. In 2021, he authored a bill requiring every large public school district in Texas to hire a "diversity, equity, and inclusion officer" tasked with establishing "a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion for all students" and implementing "training related to diversity, equity, or inclusion." The bill, which went nowhere in Texas's Republican-controlled legislature, could have benefited MAYA as it established itself as a leading "education equity" firm.

"Much of our work is rooted in our diversity, equity, and inclusion philosophy," the firm wrote in a 2021 blog published one month before Talarico unveiled his bill. "As part of this work, we often discuss how to tear down systems of oppression and white supremacy culture. We work to recognize our own privilege and how to commit to being antiracist."

In addition to its "antiracist" work, MAYA championed left-wing gender initiatives in K-12 schools. In March 2020, the firm celebrated "Trans Day of Visibility" by touting its work "unpacking our cisnormative assumptions about trans narratives." Three months later, MAYA donated another $5,000 to Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which is now known as Glisten. The group has advocated against bills outlawing transgender care for minors. It also authored a "Model District Policy on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students" for K-12 school districts arguing that school officials should not disclose a student's "transgender status" to his or her parents.

"All persons, including students, have a right to privacy, and this includes the right to keep one's transgender status private at school," the model policy states. "When contacting the parent or guardian of a transgender or gender nonconforming student, school staff should use the student’s legal name and the pronoun corresponding to the student’s gender assigned at birth unless the student, parent, or guardian has specified otherwise." Failing to do so could result in "family rejection," according to the policy.

Talarico engaged in similar advocacy in the state legislature. He was a leading opponent of a 2023 bill outlawing sex change treatments for minors in Texas, which he said would "deny trans children life-saving health care." Talarico now says he opposes "gender reassignment surgery for minors."

When former president Barack Obama endorsed Talarico in 2020, MAYA congratulated its consultant in a tweet.

"If you're peaking, we're peaking! Congrats on your endorsement, @jamestalarico!" the firm wrote alongside the hashtag "#EduEquity." "Aw thanks," Talarico responded.

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