Member Spotlight: Alissa Rodolico – Fueled by Clay, Cats, and Courage
Alissa Rodolico has never been one to follow the usual script. A barista with a soft spot for stray cats, a maker of clay crafts, and a self-declared Minecraft trivia champion, she’s quietly rewriting what it means to live life out loud. Whether she’s acing her coffee tests or shouting with joy at a pajama party board game, Alissa brings passion and presence to everything she touches—including her new home within the DFW Young & Social community.
Alissa Rodolico
Proud Coffee BaristaMember since
December 2024Background & Journey
Alissa came to Texas at just two weeks old—and she’s been here ever since. Raised by a single adoptive mom who took on the task of raising her and her sisters, Alissa grew up all across the DFW area.
“…we moved around so much, I went to at least seven different schools,” she recalls
By 13, she was working. By 19, she had moved out on her own. And since then?
“I’ve been embracing life and all of the crazy it comes with.”
Passions & Work
Now a proud barista, Alissa initially pursued the dream of opening a cat café—one where all the cats were rescued.
“I love cats with every fiber in my being,”
But the unexpected gift of her work turned out to be the regulars.
“The most rewarding part is the customer relationships. I adore all of my regulars and they seem to like me, too.”
When she switches locations or disappears for a while, they notice—and that connection means everything. On the creative side, Alissa thrives on tactile expression: sketchbooks, random DIY projects, and now air-dry clay.
“I love the feeling of clay or paint on my skin,” she says. “It makes me feel like I’ve made something worth showing.”
Community Connection
It all started with a missed invite. A friend had invited her to a DFW Young & Social dance social, but she couldn’t make it. Still, something nudged her to check out the group.
“I started looking into what DFWYAS had to offer—and I was hooked.”
Her favorite memory so far?
“The most recent PJ social. For the first time I actually got loud while playing a game! I was having so much fun I forgot to control the volume of my voice!”
For someone who once feared not fitting in, the experience of feeling safe to be herself was deeply meaningful.
“It means the world to me. I love having somewhere to go and just let loose but also still have a controlled environment.”
Life Beyond Work
In her downtime, Alissa loves diving into books, shows, crafts—anything she can get lost in. And if you ever want to go down a rabbit hole of facts about Minecraft, she’s your girl.
“I know a lot about Minecraft! I could talk about it for hours.”
While she hasn’t traveled much yet, Utah holds a special place in her heart for its quiet beauty and wide-open landscapes.
“Most people kept to themselves, so I didn’t feel out of place.”
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, Alissa is ready for whatever memories and adventures the year brings. Her guiding mantra?
“Do it scared.”
That little phrase is what got her to her first board game night—even when fear tried to talk her out of it.
To her younger self, she’d offer something simple, and powerful:
“Be kind. Yes, that even means be kind to yourself.”
And her message to the world?
“My life was a series of misled choices. I was raised to think being a housewife was the only option, and I felt stuck. But I had a rude awakening that made me realize there was more to life. Now I’m doing the things I want to do, living my life, creating, forming connections, and having fun. This is your life. It’s never too late to start.”
From crafting with clay to crafting a new chapter of her life, Alissa reminds us that courage doesn’t always roar—it sometimes starts with showing up scared.
