Dora Jenkins, a criminal justice student at John Jay College, is the owner of Sandra’s Laundromat in Brooklyn NY. This business is close to Dora’s heart as it is in the memory of her late mother. Sandra’s Laundromat is not only clean and safe but also provides community service such as Wi-Fi open to the public and a Laundry Library where individuals can borrow books, movies, and other printed materials.
Dora is a criminal justice student at John Jay College and has been admitted to Howard University School of Law to pursue a career as a criminal defense attorney. She intends to work as a criminal defense lawyer while also pursuing her entrepreneurial ambitions.
Dora’s motives for becoming a criminal defense lawyer are similar to Dora’s. She is concerned about the needs of her community. Many people look up to her for her passion and commitment. Her goal is that, throughout the course of her career, she will be able to repay the community for everything that they have given her.
In an effort to provide a safe and clean environment, Dora Jenkins opened Sandra’s Laundromat to keep her mother’s legacy in their community. The laundromat does not only provide laundry services but also a library for book lovers and a Wi-Fi hotspot open to the public. Inspired by her mom, Dora plans on going back to school after she graduates from John Jay College in Criminal Justice with hopes of becoming a criminal defense attorney with Howard University School of Law.
“When my mom passed away, she really inspired me to do something within the community,” said Dora. “She was a social worker and I want to follow in her footsteps and change lives.”
Dora observed her mother’s work ethic and grew inspired by the constant efforts she saw her mother making. Dora went on to flourish into a highly motivated worker, learner, and entrepreneur herself. “It’s something that I know she would be proud of,” said Dora. “I’m not doing this for me, but to keep her legacy alive and to do good in the community.”
This passion and inspiration led to the opening of Sandra’s Laundromat. The laundromat offers services such as full-size washers and dryers, a coin counter machine, self-service vending machines, professional ironing boards, steam irons with various attachments, free Wi-Fi hotspot for public use, and a library/reading room for book lovers to enjoy.
“Growing up, I wished that the laundromat had more things for kids to do,” said Dora. “That’s why I have a library inside of my laundromat so children can print their homework and read books while waiting for the laundry machine.”
Dora is trying to continue her mother’s legacy by doing what she loved most; giving back to the community. “She always told me that if you do well in school, you can achieve anything,” said Dora. “I came here because I want to make her proud and show her that I’m doing something beneficial and making an impact.” When asked about what kind of impact this laundromat will have on the community, Dora said that she hopes to inspire her young customers. “I want them to feel like they can do what I’m doing,” said Dora. “We have enough individuals in this world that are being negative and it’s time for us to start being positive.”
The Laundry Library that Dora provides also serves as a community service where patrons are encouraged to bring in their used or gently used books for others to read. These books are then donated to various families, organizations, and schools within the local community. “I like seeing people reading good literature,” said Dora. “It brings happiness and knowledge.” Their customers can be entertained and learn something new while waiting for their laundry.
At Sandra’s Laundromat, their slogan is “happy clothes, happy people.” Dora hopes to see more happy faces and wants her laundromat to serve as an encouragement to others in not only changing lives but also making a difference in someone else’s life. “It’s so easy to go through life and just be a part of the crowd,” said Dora. “But we all need to do our part and make sure we’re giving back and helping those in need.” Sandra’s Laundromat is beneficial to low-income families who may not be able to afford the cost of laundry services. Sandra’s Laundromat offers lower prices than other laundromats within New York City. Customers are encouraged to save their receipts so they can send them in for a chance to win daily prizes that range from free washers and dryers, gift cards, etc.
Throughout her experiences of working at Sandra’s Laundromat, Dora has learned valuable lessons from her customers which include tips on how to be successful as a business owner. “There was one customer who told me that you can’t complain about your situation; you must take action and do something to change it,” said Dora. Dora has learned to identify with her customers and take advice from them as well.
Since the opening of Sandra’s Laundromat, the business has been booming. And when asked about why she chose to study criminal law, Dora shared, “I became interested in law after witnessing several unjust cases. I want to make a difference and fight for justice by changing people’s lives.”
As a college student at John Jay, she works hard both at school and Sandra’s Laundromat. Dora is a full-time criminal justice major. “I wanted to get into the field of law,” said Dora. She hopes that by going to school, she can learn about how laws work and use her knowledge to help others. She manages school, work, and life in general. Dora stated, “I am able to manage my time efficiently by utilizing the website Google Calendar. It helps me to prioritize and plan ahead when it comes to my assignments, work schedule, and personal life.”
This busy college student always finds time to help others. Dora likes to give back because she believes that giving is receiving. She wants everyone in her community to be happy and healthy by encouraging them to do something positive. “I believe that if you surround yourself with good people, then you will become a better person,” said Dora.
No matter how busy life gets, or what obstacles may stand in her way, Dora cannot be deterred from achieving her goals. “Through college, you get a lot of physical stress,” admitted Dora. “But I got through it by making sure I got my rest, ate well, and kept my body hydrated.”
Dora plans to attend Howard University School of Law when she finishes her undergraduate studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Her goal is to become a criminal defense attorney after she graduates. Community service has been a part of Dora from a young age. She plans on making even more difference when she becomes an attorney for criminal justice reform in the future.
As a young entrepreneur, Dora shares advice for other young business owners. “If you have a dream or aspiration, go after it! Don’t let anyone tell you that your dreams cannot come true.” Dora’s advice has helped her push through the difficulties of owning a laundromat at such a young age and being in school full-time. She advises fellow entrepreneurs by saying, “Don’t give up, you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish when you persevere.”
Dora credits most of her success to her faith in God and believing in herself. She stated, “I am thankful for all the people who have encouraged me along this journey; I wouldn’t be able to make it without my family, friends, professors, and even my customers.”
For Dora Jenkins, hard work pays off. Her laundromat provides jobs for individuals in her community while also providing a library for book lovers and a Wi-Fi hotspot open to the public. Throughout all of this, she is still working toward achieving her long-term goal: attending Howard University School of Law when she finishes at John Jay College in Criminal Justice with hopes of becoming a criminal defense attorney after graduation. Sandra’s Laundromat stands as a symbol for Dora’s drive, ambition, and determination to succeed in her community.
Community service has always played an important role in her life which was exemplified by opening up Sandra’s Laundromat -a business that provides jobs for individuals in her community as well as a library for book lovers and is open to the public. Community service has been a part of Dora from a young age. She plans on making even more difference when she becomes an attorney for criminal justice reform in the future.
Interviews and PR by Matt Peters.
https://searchmanipulator.com
About The Author
