When LaChena Clark lost her job in the 2008 recession, she knew the moment was right to launch the business she had long planned, Sudsy Water Laundry & Dry Cleaners in Harlem. Since then, her entrepreneurial success has allowed her to open her second business—Mia’s BathHouse for Pets—and become President and Senior Business Advisor of Bradhurst Merchants Association in Harlem, advocating for minority owned businesses in the city.

When covid-19 began to spread in New York this spring, business came to a halt. “Everyone felt a little bit of fear because we didn’t know what was next,” she said. But despite facing a loss in her business during the pandemic, LaChena was determined to give support to the community. “After the initial shock I thought: ‘Well, we’re not so bad off. We should lend a hand to others.” LaChena’s laundromat began doing free or discounted laundry for elderly communities, since they were the most susceptible to the virus. And, in partnership with Doctors Without Borders, her business began offering laundry services to homeless New Yorkers.

In the meantime, LaChena is feeling optimistic about her business in the future. While pivoting to meet the new demands during a pandemic, she has started a few new practices—like no-contact pickup and delivery and transparency about safety procedures—which she hopes to keep in place in the future. “We’re hoping, once the city reopens, it leads to a new standard and a level of convenience” she adds. “I hope that we make long lasting changes.” LaChena can also be found on LinkedIn here.