This Woman Knows is proud to announce the January/February 2026 Microgrant recipient: Nicole Williams, founder of Fresh Connections Laundry & Learning Center.
Nicole’s work reflects the kind of initiative the This Woman Knows Microgrant was created to support—projects rooted in community, service, and everyday impact.
In April 2025, Nicole purchased a laundromat that had fallen into serious disrepair. The building had become a neighborhood eyesore, filled with obsolete equipment, debris, and infrastructure problems that required significant repair.
Since then, she has been steadily transforming the space.
Machines have been repaired or replaced. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC upgrades were completed to bring the building into compliance with city codes. A bathroom and office were installed. A security system and comfortable seating area were added so customers can feel safe and welcome while doing something as ordinary as laundry.
But Nicole’s vision extends well beyond clean clothes.
Fresh Connections Laundry & Learning Center is being built as a community gathering space—a place where neighbors can connect while completing an essential life task.
In addition to self-service and drop-off laundry services, Nicole plans to host programs and gatherings for people of all ages, including preschool story hours, teen clubs, financial literacy workshops, book discussions, and a “Retired and Inspired” coffee hour for seniors.
The laundromat is already beginning to fulfill that vision.
Many residents are grateful they can walk to a nearby laundromat rather than arranging transportation across town. Senior citizens often visit during the day knowing Nicole will help them load and unload their laundry—and sometimes simply sit and talk.
One gentleman recently told her:
“This is the most conversation I have had in a week.”
Moments like that reveal just how powerful everyday community spaces can be.
When Nicole learned she had been selected for the This Woman Knows microgrant, the moment was emotional.
“When I got the email letting me know that I was a grant recipient, I literally cried,” she shared. “I know it is a microgrant and that might seem dramatic, but this endeavor has been very hard and full of so many obstacles and challenges.”
Nicole has funded the majority of the restoration work herself.
“I have done everything that I can on my own, with my own funds,” she said. “But to fully realize the vision there is so much more to do. Even the smallest amount of support makes a very significant difference in very tangible and practical ways.”
The grant will be used to purchase insulation and drywall for the office space. Once the office is completed, Nicole will be able to move furniture and supplies currently stored in the classroom, bringing her one step closer to launching the gatherings and programs she has planned.
“I will be one very crucial step closer to starting the social gatherings for the community,” she said.
Receiving the grant also provided something less tangible but equally meaningful.
“Being a grant recipient is not just about the practical,” Nicole explained. “It also meant validation for my crazy idea and my leap of faith that I would be able to do this. I have put everything on the line to make this happen, and receiving this grant feels like wind beneath my sails.”
For This Woman Knows founder Lisa N. Alexander, projects like Fresh Connections represent the heart of the platform’s mission.
“This is the kind of work that is at the center of This Woman Knows,” Alexander said. “Rooted in community and service, it benefits everyone.”
We are honored to support Nicole’s work and look forward to seeing Fresh Connections Laundry & Learning Center continue to grow as a place where neighbors gather, learn, and care for one another.
Lisa N. Alexander is the author and founder of This Woman Knows and What Million-Dollar Brands Know. She is an award-winning filmmaker, director, producer, and writer and is the owner of PrettyWork Creative.
