From the field….
Updates from our work in community—where listening, partnership, and action come together to advance health literacy and equity.Dream it
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Co-Create it
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Do it
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Share it
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Dream it • Co-Create it • Do it • Share it •
September 2026 | Presentation
CityMatCH Annual Conference in Portland, OR
Wash and Spin to Health: A Laundromat-Based Reproductive Health Education Intervention
Authors: Claire Auslander (presenter), Maddy Zhang (presenter), Courtni Foster, Daniela Grados-Rojas, Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza, Roxanne Mirabal-Beltran (presenter)
This study explored whether laundromats can serve as an effective community space for delivering reproductive health education to women who may be less connected to traditional healthcare settings. Researchers evaluated an animated reproductive health intervention that was co-created by the CAB and delivered in four laundromats across Washington, DC, and Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Among participants who completed both assessments, reproductive health knowledge increased after viewing the intervention. Participants viewed the intervention positively, describing it as informative, engaging, and easy to understand. Overall, the findings demonstrate the potential for laundromats to serve as accessible, nontraditional settings for sharing understandable and relevant health information with communities that may experience barriers to clinic-based health education.
What this tells us: Health education does not have to be limited to traditional healthcare settings. These findings support the WASH Project’s community-centered approach and show how working alongside community members to develop engaging health education can strengthen reproductive health knowledge and expand access to important health information.
May 2026 | Publication Update
In Research in Nursing & Health
Authors: Roxanne Mirabal-Beltran, Erika Ventura Castellon, Laura Spagna, Kelly Zhang, , and Karyn J Roberts
Laura Spagna, a WASH Community Advisory Board (CAB) member and registered nurse serving Washington, DC communities, co-authored this study examining barriers to reproductive healthcare access from the provider perspective.
We conducted in-depth interviews with 14 providers serving patients from under-resourced communities across Washington, DC.
Providers described four key challenges: limited health literacy, distrust and mistrust of healthcare information and systems, difficulties navigating available services, and broader policy and system-level barriers that affect access to care. Notably, providers emphasized that insurance coverage alone does not guarantee meaningful access to reproductive healthcare.
What this tells us: Improving health outcomes requires more than expanding coverage—it requires trusted, community-based approaches that address health literacy, strengthen connections to care, and help individuals navigate complex healthcare systems. These findings support the WASH model of combining health education with navigation services in familiar community settings.
April 2026 | Publication Update
In Health Equity
ReDesigning Partner Compensation in Perinatal Community-Based Participatory Research
Authors: Heather M. Bradford, Kelly M. Bower, Kelley N. Robinson, Alexis Dunn Amore, Jalila Nataki Smith Simmons, Dawn Sherman, and Roxanne Mirabal-Beltran
Jalila Nataki Smith Simmons, a longtime WASH Community Advisory Board member and community advocate, co-authored this commentary on equitable compensation in perinatal community-based participatory research (CBPR).
Drawing on experiences from perinatal CBPR partnerships, the paper highlights challenges community partners face in receiving fair compensation for their expertise and contributions. Barriers included institutional bureaucracy, limited flexibility in payment systems, lack of transparency, and unique challenges experienced by women participating in community-engaged research.
What this tells us: Authentic community engagement requires more than inviting community members to the table—it requires equitable, transparent, and sustainable compensation practices that recognize their expertise, support meaningful participation, and strengthen long-term community-academic partnerships such as WASH.
September 2025 | Publication Update
In Health Equity
Authors: Roxanne Mirabal-Beltran, Kelsey Rondini, Nandi Dube, Ana P. Torres, Katalina Hicks, and Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza
In this study, we explored whether laundromats could serve as spaces for sharing reproductive health information. Across four DC laundromats, we surveyed 60 women about their health knowledge, experiences with care, and openness to learning while doing laundry.
While many participants had a strong foundation of knowledge, gaps remained particularly around folic acid use, pregnancy spacing, and recognizing symptoms of infection. Most participants expressed interest in receiving health information in laundromat settings.
What this tells us: Laundromats are trusted spaces with real potential for community-based health education.
March 2025 | CAB
CAB Brings Community Together for “Aftershock” Screening and Honoring
In March 2025, the CAB hosted a screening of Aftershock, followed by a dynamic panel discussion that brought together community members, advocates, and leaders in maternal health.
August 2023 | Publication Update
Health Promotion Practice
Laundromats: Community-Based Partnerships to Increase Reproductive Health Literacy Outreach
Authors: Roxanne Mirabal-Beltran, Kelsey Rondini, and Laura Linnan
This paper explores how laundromats — trusted, everyday community spaces — have been used for health education, and where gaps still exist. While some efforts have shared information on topics like literacy and cancer prevention, few have been evaluated, and most have not been developed in partnership with the community.
We introduce WASH as a community-based model built through co-creation. This work reflects on what we’ve learned, what has been challenging, and what this approach makes possible moving forward.
Why this matters: It highlights the potential of bringing health education into spaces people already trust — and doing so in partnership with the community.
September 2022 | Featured Story
Georgetown University Berkley School of Nursing
Building Community Connections Through Participatory Research at Local Laundromats
WASH was featured in a Georgetown University Berkley School of Nursing story highlighting our approach to community-based health literacy and the role of laundromats as trusted spaces for engagement.
The story reflects what has been central to this work from the beginning—building relationships with community partners and rethinking where and how health education can happen. Laundromats, as familiar and accessible neighborhood spaces, offer a meaningful opportunity to connect with individuals who may not always be reached through traditional healthcare settings.
October 2021 | Key Update
CAB meets at the Stuart Center and becomes the WASH CAB!
Recognizing WASH as a model of culturally-responsive research!
During our October CAB meeting, we were joined by guest speaker, Tawara Goode, Associate Professor at Georgetown University (GU) Medical Center and Director of the GU National Center for Cultural Competence and GU Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. She shared her perspective on culturally-responsive research and community engagement. In reflecting on the WASH model, she identified this work as an exemplar of culturally-competent research — grounded in partnership, trust, and responsiveness to community needs!
Her remarks affirmed what has guided this work from the beginning: meaningful research is not only about what is studied, but how it is done and who is centered in the process.
We also officially came up with our name: Wash and Spin to Health!