Home Base Florida welcomes Rodriguez as wellness coordinator
Home Base Florida, a leading nonprofit dedicated to supporting veterans, service members and military families impacted by the invisible wounds of war, has welcomed U.S. Coast Guard veteran Lauren Rodriguez as part-time wellness coordinator.
In her new role, Rodriguez will help recruit and guide veterans and their families through Home Base Florida’s Warrior Health and Fitness Program, implementing evidence-informed wellness programming that combines exercise, nutrition and mind-body education to improve overall health and strengthen connections to Home Base’s clinical care and peer support services. She will also oversee participant engagement, mentor exercise science interns, support Adventure Series programming and serve as a key ambassador for Home Base throughout Southwest Florida.
Rodriguez brings a unique perspective to the position as both a military veteran and former Home Base Florida participant. After experiencing firsthand the positive impact of the organization’s Warrior Health and Fitness Program and clinical care, she now joins the team with a passion for helping fellow veterans find the same sense of healing, connection and purpose.
A graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, Rodriguez earned her bachelor of science in exercise science while serving as president of the university’s Student Veterans of America chapter. During her tenure, she led initiatives focused on veteran engagement, mentorship, scholarship opportunities and community partnerships, helping student veterans connect with resources that supported both their academic and personal success.
In addition to her advocacy work, Rodriguez founded VetHub, a digital platform dedicated to sharing veteran stories, resources and opportunities. Through interviews, educational content and community-focused storytelling, she has worked to increase awareness of veteran issues while highlighting the resilience and accomplishments of Veterans and military families.
“Home Base Florida changed my life,” said Rodriguez. “The Warrior Health and Fitness Program and clinical care gave me the tools, confidence and community I needed to thrive after my military service. I’m incredibly honored to now serve alongside the team that helped me and to help other Veterans discover that they don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone.”
Rodriguez’s passion for veteran advocacy is rooted in her own military experience and her belief that connection, purpose and community are essential to long-term well-being. In her new role, she said she looks forward to helping veterans and their families build sustainable healthy lifestyles while fostering the sense of camaraderie and accountability that makes the Warrior Health and Fitness Program so impactful.
About Home Base Florida
Home Base is one of the first and largest nonprofits in the country dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war through clinical care, wellness, education and research — all at no out-of-pocket cost to veterans and their families. Concerned by the rising suicides and health challenges Florida veterans were facing when they returned home, Home Base opened Home Base Florida in 2014.
Partnering with Florida Gulf Coast University, Lee Health, Tampa General Hospital, David Lawrence Centers and Lakeview Center, Home Base Florida provides world-class clinical care, wellness-based programs and peer support for veterans, service members and their families. Services are available in person in Fort Myers, Estero, Naples, Tampa and Pensacola, as well as statewide through telehealth.
To learn more about Home Base Florida or connect to care, visit HomeBase.org/Florida.