Carlos A. Rodriquez

Carlos A. Rodríguez is a Puerto Rican author, speaker, activist, and nonprofit leader whose work combines progressive Christian spirituality with practical community service. He is best known as the founder of The Happy Givers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to disaster relief, food insecurity, housing reconstruction, and community development in Puerto Rico and beyond.

Rodríguez first gained recognition through his writing and speaking ministry, where he challenged rigid religious systems and called Christians toward a faith rooted in grace, compassion, and justice. He is the author of Simply Sonship and Drop the Stones, books that explore identity, faith, and the tension between religion and mercy. His work consistently encourages people to move beyond fear and exclusion toward empathy, humility, and love in action.

A major turning point in Rodríguez’s life came after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017. At the time, he was traveling in the United States promoting a book when he experienced what he later described as a spiritual reckoning. He stepped away from the conference and celebrity speaking circuit and committed himself fully to relief work and rebuilding efforts on the island. That decision transformed both his ministry and public witness.

Through The Happy Givers, Rodríguez has helped fund and organize projects ranging from rebuilding homes and operating community kitchens to supporting migrants and underserved families. His leadership reflects a deeply practical faith centered on solidarity with vulnerable communities.

Rodríguez is also widely respected for his outspoken opposition to Christian nationalism and exclusionary forms of religion. His message resonates across denominational and cultural lines because it emphasizes authenticity, justice, peacemaking, and compassion over ideology.

Today, Rodríguez lives in Puerto Rico with his wife, Catherine, and their three children, continuing his work as a writer, advocate, and humanitarian leader.