Women in Olney & Fern Rock: Olney Collab Celebrates Susi Oh

Olney is home to Susi because of the people around her. She grew up alongside this community and has lived here since she was 24 years old. To her, the neighborhood feels close-knit, where everyone knows each other, often across multiple generations. What inspired Susi to make a difference in Olney is the way community members support one another. She wanted to give back in return for the support she received and to help keep Olney a safe place where people feel welcome rather than wanting to leave or avoid visiting.

Susi admires the women of Olney for being both strong and welcoming. Many are businesswomen who come to the neighborhood for beauty products or self-care, and she values the way they take care of each other. Her dream for women in the future is that they continue to brighten Olney, make a difference, and carry forward the community’s legacy.

One of the toughest challenges Susi faced while pursuing her dreams was overcoming the language barrier. As an Asian woman, communicating was difficult when she first arrived in America, but through persistence she taught herself, learned new phrases, and worked hard to connect with her customers. A moment that deeply touched her heart came during COVID-19 in 2020, when she was struggling with her store. The Olney Community Collaborative formerly Olney Revitalization Projects helped her with funding, showing her that Olney is a place where everyone helps one another, regardless of skin color.

Susi encourages other women in Olney by reminding them that business is not easy. It requires long hours, dedication, and often working through holidays, depending on the type of business. If she could spend a day in Olney doing nothing, she would spend it talking with Stephanie at the Olney Community Collaborative about all kinds of things because to her, Olney is home, and she loves the community deeply.