Photo: Amber Green (left) and Emily Marshall (right) at the Wash It laundromat in Salisbury on May 21, 2025.
On May 21st, something eye-opening unfolded at the Wash It Laundromat on Eastern Shore Drive in Salisbury: Shore Legal Access and Wash It staff created a community hub for second chances and fresh starts. With resource tables nestled between vending machines and signs reading “Connecting Counsel and Communities,” SLA’s criminal record expungement event brought justice to the spin cycle in a unique and impactful way.
The idea was born from SLA’s Lower Shore Expungement Case Manager Emily Marshall’s personal experience spending her evenings at the laundromat as a child.
“I remember watching my mom spend a lot of time doing chores in her spare time. The laundry machines at our rental home rarely worked, so my mom and I would walk up and down the street to our local laundromat. We didn’t have time to attend community events because we were too busy with life,” Marshall said. “So I asked myself, ” Why not bring justice to where people really are?”
Marshall knew that for many people, especially those with past records trying to rebuild, the obstacles to accessing legal help are daunting. Money, time, transportation, childcare, and trust are all barriers to getting a fresh start in life. On top of that, going to an office to talk to an attorney can be intimidating.
But the laundromat? That’s a familiar and comfortable place for many families.
Amber Green, SLA’s Community Outreach Coordinator, took Marshall’s idea and brought it to life. From coordinating logistics to building a trusting relationship with the community, Green made sure everything was in order for a successful event.
“”Meeting people where they are is important in making justice accessible to all. I’m excited to be part of this effort in our community.” Green said.
Beyond offering specific legal assistance, the event fostered a deeper sense of community – and made the law more approachable. Salisbury locals stopped in with questions, some skeptical at first, but leaving hopeful and informed. Parents multitasked, handling laundry while getting their paperwork started. Children were able to win prizes and cupcakes! The space buzzed with positivity and hope.
Innovation in justice doesn’t always mean building new systems. Sometimes it can be as simple as shifting existing ones into the everyday spaces where people live and work.
“We already have customers asking when [SLA] will be here again,” said Kateri Hall, Wash It’s Laundromat Manager.
The success of the workshop wasn’t in how formal it was—but in how normal it felt for people who needed help. It reminded us that access to justice doesn’t have to live in courtrooms. Sometimes, it can start between large washing machines and folding tables fueled by childhood memories and a shared commitment to dignity. With more workshops planned in informal, unconventional spaces, the Wash It Expungement Workshop is setting a powerful precedent: justice can, and should, go where the people are.
