President and Founder of the Center for Puerto Rico Equality & Advancement (CPREA) formed under the July 4th,1899 Foundation. Mr. Rafael Rodriguez has been an active advocate for Puerto Rico Statehood throughout his adult life. He has served in a variety of leadership capacities; always sharing his positions to advance and build dialogue, with the key tenet that "Puerto Rico should have the same opportunities and equality, as guaranteed and provided to all under the United States Constitution."
A committed Puerto Rico Statehood idealist, he believes strongly that the Center will provide the Statehood movement a much needed voice and engine for the national movement, consistent with its stated goals: "Advancing Statehood for Puerto Rico through Policy Analysis and Academics."
He has an unrivalled and active history in community and pastoral affairs, serving as Director of Youth and Christian Education, District of Queens, New York for the Church of God; and as Pastor of the Monticello Church of God in New York, where he also served as the host of "The Shepherd's Staff", a weekly ministry radio program sponsored by the Monticello Church of God. Mr. Rodriguez also served as Educator for the regional Bible Institutes of the Church of God in upstate New York and in Queens, New York, where he also served as Youth and Christian Education minister at the Jamaica Church of God.
Mr. Rodriguez served as President of the Brooklyn Young Republicans in New York, Young Republicans of Kings County, New York and was a State Assembly candidate for District 54 in Brooklyn, New York. He has been a board member of the Sullivan County Anti-Poverty Coalition and served on the Human Rights Committee for the Monticello Police Department. Mr. Rodriguez has been recognized for his compassion and motivational speech. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Ministry from the Hispanic Institute of Ministry of Dallas, Texas.
