There are 24 hours in the day, and Joseph Alonso makes the most of every one. Whether with his family, at work practicing law, or volunteering his time and talent to the community, he is present and passionate about what that moment holds. And he feels blessed that life holds a lot right now.
Family first is the mantra to which Joseph and his wife, Alisa, actively subscribe. Ask them what they do together with their three daughters, Lilly Claire, Charlotte and Isabelle, and you will hear an account that sounds like the curriculum for a wonderful arts and humanities academy. Joseph and Alisa strive to provide their family with enrichment beyond what they learn in school. Life experiences that involve theater, art and music are all engrained in the Alonso family’s daily life.
Joseph’s philosophy of encouraging his children to follow their passions has led to a busy and varied schedule of activities. He says, “We cook together, have dance parties, play instruments and makeup songs. We spend time outdoors canoeing and fishing, versus sitting in front of the television.” Daughter Lilly Claire takes boxing lessons, is a member of the Senior Troupe at Off-Broadway Children’s Theater and will attend Blessed Trinity High School next year. Charlotte and Isabelle are in training at the Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance and recently performed in “The Nutcracker” and “Aladdin.”
The Alonso’s interests extend far beyond their family and into to their community by giving back. Joseph has lived in Roswell since 1991 and seen the city grow into a diverse area with an incredible global population, which he considers as bringing with it all the opportunities for enrichment. He says, “I believe in my heart that if you want to see a community thrive and offer a rich live-work-play experience, you have to be an active participant in that realization and success.”
This year, he is board chair for the Children’s Development Academy (CDA), a non-profit organization in Roswell that provides affordable early learning programs and childcare for preschool children.
Professionally, Joseph is a Partner and member of the Executive Committee at GDCR Law, leading the firm’s national practice in the securities industry, trade secret and technology litigation. Having successfully practiced law for nearly 20 years, he is sought after and gives his time to professional organizations mentoring others in the field where he finds fulfillment. He is a Governor appointee to the Board of Directors for the Georgia Humanities Council, and a graduate of Leadership at North Fulton and the Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy.
Joseph says about his philanthropic endeavors, “I feel as if I get so much more than I give by doing this work.” He was first drawn to this purpose by a friend who recommended that Joseph volunteer at a local shelter. “It was humbling and enlightening. It was a deep reminder about how much gratitude I have for my circumstances and that I actually have something to give when helping others.”
A day in the life of Joseph Alonso is a full one, rich with the people and experiences that inspire him. How about one more interesting tidbit? The Alonso family pandemic project became ALONSO - Hot Sauce for a Cause. “We were bored and stressed out during COVID,” says Joseph, “So we started a hot sauce company that donates 30% of its profits to non-profit organizations. So far we’ve been able to support Bashor Homeless Men’s Shelter, Music Maker, Concrete Jungle, and Common Good Atlanta." Never a dull moment!
