Dallas County announces 10th annual Expunction Expo to help clear criminal records
This is the 10th year that the district attorney and the district clerk have put on this expo and if you get your record cleared, that can clear the way for new employment opportunities, housing opportunities, and even the ability to go to college.
Dallas County expunction eligibility
What we know: Individuals who do not qualify for expunction are those who have been given a final conviction, given probation, or given community supervision.
If an individual had a misdemeanor, or a Class C misdemeanor and received a deferred disposition, then they do not qualify for expunction.
If you had two concurrent cases and were acquitted in one but convicted in the other, you don’t qualify for a standard expunction. Instead, you have to apply to enter the expunction pool
How to apply for the 2026 Expunction Expo
Beginning on Wednesday, July 8 at 8 a.m. through Thursday, July 9 at 5 p.m. individuals can apply online at dallascounty.org/expunction.
Local perspective: If you don’t have a computer or the internet, there will be some set-ups across the city, such as at the Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church on Hampton Road, at the Friendship West Formula Human Services offices on Kiest Blvd, or at the Tori Community Offices where part of the T.D. Jakes Foundation will be set up on Westmoreland Road.
Dallas County advises individuals to make sure they have a valid identification, date of birth, social security number and case history when individuals go to make this application.
A retail venture launched by The Potter’s House is blending faith, fashion and community outreach by turning every purchase into support for humanitarian and educational initiatives around the world.
Known as The House Shop, the ministry-based retail brand offers apparel and merchandise designed to reflect messages of faith and purpose while generating funding for charitable programs. Leaders say the initiative was created to extend the church’s mission beyond its walls by combining modern fashion with meaningful impact.
The House Shop features a range of products, from streetwear and casual apparel to children’s clothing and baby items. According to organizers, all proceeds from sales support the work of United MegaCare, a nonprofit partner focused on disaster relief, education, health and wellness services, and financial empowerment programs for underserved communities.
Church leaders describe the venture as “ministry in motion,” emphasizing that each purchase helps provide resources and assistance to individuals and families facing economic hardship or recovering from natural disasters.
United MegaCare reports a global reach spanning multiple continents, with more than 39 million people served in North America, more than 7 million in Africa, more than 1 million in Europe, nearly 1 million in South America, approximately 580,000 in Asia and more than 280,000 in Australia. The organization’s efforts include humanitarian aid, community development initiatives and faith-based outreach programs.
The launch comes as The Potter’s House prepares to celebrate its 30th church anniversary on July 5, marking three decades of ministry and community engagement. Church officials say the anniversary serves as an opportunity to reflect on the congregation’s mission of sharing the Christian message while addressing social and economic challenges affecting communities around the world.
Supporters of The House Shop say the initiative demonstrates how retail can be used as a vehicle for charitable giving, allowing consumers to contribute to humanitarian causes while supporting a faith-centered brand.
“Our goal is to uplift humanity by embodying Christ’s call to salvation and responding to some of the world’s most pressing needs,” organizers said.
The House Shop and its charitable partnerships continue to expand as part of a broader effort to connect faith, service and global impact through community-focused initiatives.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) — Dozens of middle school students spent the week designing sneakers, building projects and developing leadership skills as part of a new summer STEAM camp making its debut in Augusta.
The camp, organized by the TD Jakes Foundation in partnership with STEAM Truck and the Imani Group, brought together about 70 students for hands-on learning focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Augusta is the third city to host the program, following Dallas and Atlanta.
Pastor Touré Roberts is opening up like never before about his relationship with his wife, Sarah Jakes Roberts and the influence of T.D. Jakes and the enormous responsibility of helping lead The Potter’s House into its next chapter.
In a deeply personal interview on “The Deep End” with Lecrae, Roberts shared how his relationship with Sarah began—and how Bishop Jakes carefully examined the man who would eventually marry his daughter.
“We both had decided that if God wasn’t doing it, we weren’t going to do it,” Roberts said, recalling how both he and Sarah had stepped away from dating after painful divorces.
“What stood out to me was her articulation of God,” he said.
At the time, Sarah was not yet the globally recognized voice she would later become. Roberts explained she was primarily known as a blogger and author before her ministry platform exploded internationally.
As the relationship grew serious, Roberts knew he needed to sit down with T.D. Jakes.
The first meeting came during one of Jakes’ book signings in Los Angeles.
“He said, ‘You know you got my daughter’s heart in your hands, right?’” Roberts recalled.
But it was a later private conversation at Jakes’ home that left the deepest impact.
After listening carefully as Roberts explained his background, intentions and relationship with Sarah, Bishop Jakes asked a question that Roberts says changed everything:
“I know what’s right with you, but tell me what’s wrong with you.”
Roberts described the moment as evidence of Jakes’ incredible discernment and wisdom.
“He was listening to my words, but what he was really listening to more so was my heart,” Roberts said.
Now, years later, Roberts and Sarah are carrying the mantle at The Potter’s House following Bishop Jakes’ succession announcement. He revealed the transition process had quietly been developing long before the public knew.
“The biggest weight that I felt was the weight of responsibility,” Roberts said. “This cannot go down.”
Still, Roberts made clear that succession is not about becoming another T.D. Jakes.
“It was very important from the Spirit of the Lord to not try to become Bishop Jakes,” he explained.
Before accepting the assignment, Roberts said he and Sarah made several non-negotiable commitments to one another.
“We’re not going to lose ourselves. We’re not going to lose our marriage. And we’re not going to lose our family.”
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — A free summer opportunity is coming to the CSRA, giving middle school students hands-on access to science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
Full STEAM Ahead Summer Camp will take place June 1 through June 5 at Paine College’s HEAL Center. The camp will serve 75 middle school students across the region and is completely free, including meals, snacks, and materials.
The program is led by the Imani Group, Inc. and is made possible through funding support from the T.D. Jakes Foundation.
Organizers say the camp is built on partnership. Collaborating organizations include Williams Memorial CME Church, Mt. Zion Community Outreach, Grieving Families Against Violence, and Positive Outcomes, all working together to expand access to summer enrichment for local youth.
The hands-on learning will be powered in part by STE(A)M Truck, a mobile learning program that has provided interactive STEAM education since 2013. The program brings technology, engineering, coding, digital fabrication, and creative problem-solving directly to students through an interactive mobile setup.
Campers will rotate through activities like coding, robotics, engineering projects, science experiments, digital media, and virtual learning experiences designed to introduce them to STEM careers in a real-world way.
Organizers also point to Paine College as a key partner, providing space on campus and helping expose students to a college environment early in their academic journey.
“This camp is about more than academics,” said Rev. Brendolyn Jenkins Boseman, executive director of The Imani Group and senior pastor of Williams Memorial CME Church. “It is about exposure, opportunity, confidence-building, and helping our youth see themselves as innovators, creators, problem-solvers, and future leaders.”
The program is designed to reach students across the community in a safe, structured, and engaging environment during the summer months.
Registration information is available through organizers, and space is limited.
After holding multiple judging sessions, D CEO editors have named finalists in its ninth annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards, presented in partnership with the Communities Foundation of Texas.
This year’s program attracted nearly 900 nominations, demonstrating the strength of the region’s nonprofit community and the deep commitment of the companies that support its work.
In all, 136 finalists will be recognized. Two special awards were also announced: Cece Cox of Resource Center will be honored with the program’s Community Impact Award, and Kayla Abramowitz of Kayla Cares 4 Kids will receive the Emerging Leader Award.
Finalists will be highlighted in D CEO’s August issue and at an exclusive awards event in July, where winners in each category will be revealed. Finalists are listed below in alphabetical order within their categories.
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
Corporate Leadership Excellence
Associa, John and Helen Carona
FarmHouse Fresh, Shannon McLinden
Oncor, Debbie Dennis
PNC Bank, Brendan McGuire
Ryan LLC, Ryan Chismark
Tolleson Wealth Management, Daniel Garcia
Tradition Homes, Zach Schneider
Corporate Partner of the Year
Amazon
AT&T
Compass Datacenters
Credit Union of Texas
Goldman Sachs
Katy Trail Ice House
Southwest Airlines
Texas Instruments
Corporate Social Responsibility
College Football Playoff
Corgan
First Command Financial Services
Park Place Dealerships
QuikTrip DFW
Texas Mutual Insurance Co.
In-Kind Services Supporter
Ben E. Keith
GF Dental
Haynes Boone
McKinsey & Co.
Medical City Healthcare
Newcomer Corporate Citizen
BioTE Medical/Institute for Hormonal Balance
Sustainability Leadership
Altair Global
NONPROFITS
Community Impact Award
Cece Cox, Resource Center
Emerging Leader
Kayla Abramowitz, Kayla Cares 4 Kids
Capital One Mobility Forward Award
Champion Impact Capital
Givingmas Inc.
TFT Organization
Board Member of the Year
Lacy Durham, ChildCareGroup
Steven Loh, Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas
Valerie Warrior, Collin County Black Chamber of Commerce
Innovation in Education: Micro + Small
Bold Idea
Breaking Down Barriers
CREW in the Community
Japanese Career Women
Innovation in Education: Midsize + Large + Mega
Ascend Dallas
Dallas Innovation Alliance
Girlstart
Parkinson Voice Project
ScholarShot
Leadership Excellence: Micro
Lisset Bell, Good Local Markets
Stephen Ford, Marshall’s Dream
Jo Lam, Project Beauty
Leslie Chaggaris Vruggink, In this House
Leadership Excellence: Small
Ricquel Archer, Create and Collaborate
Raj Daniels, U.S. India Chamber of Commerce DFW
Adan Gonzalez, Puede Network
Annette Leslie, Carson Leslie Foundation
Maria Machado, The Shared Housing Center
Amanda Migura, Keller Education Foundation
Johannes Starks, BEST Robotics
Leadership Excellence: Midsize
Stacie Adams, Business Council for the Arts
Amber Case, Your Harvest House
Benaye Wadkins Chambers, Crossroads Community Services
Beth Myers, Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas
Karen Hughes White, Texas Women’s Foundation
Bob Williams, Ranch Hands Rescue
Kimberly Williams, Interfaith Family Services
Leadership Excellence: Large
Jill Cumnock, Ronald McDonald House Dallas
Cheryl Jackson, Minnie’s Food Pantry
Erin Offord, Big Thought
Charles Wolford, Union Gospel Mission, Tarrant County
Leadership Excellence: Mega
Ashley Brundage, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
Kim Elenez, Make-A-Wish North Texas
Charles “Chuck” Henderson, American Diabetes Association
Ed Jamison, Operation Kindness Humane Society
Tod Marvin, My Possibilities
Jennifer Sampson, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Brenda Snitzer, The Stewpot
Most Successful Fundraising or Awareness Campaign
Catholic Charities Dallas
Children’s Cancer Fund
Ronald McDonald House Dallas
The Salvation Army of North Texas
Visiting Nurse Association of Texas
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
Newcomer Nonprofit
Big Heart Theater
Born Strong Foundation
Empower the Voice
Isaiah 117 House
Live Like Knox Foundation
Nonprofit Team of the Year: Micro + Small
The Bridewell Foundation (Camp Esperanza Grant team)
DFWATW (iLEADinSTEM team)
Fort Worth Five Loaves and Two Fish (Outreach team)
Friends of Bachman Lake (Greenbelt team)
Nonprofit Team of the Year: Midsize + Large
Catch Up & Read (Literacy Coaching team)
DRC Solutions (Street Outreach team)
Hope Cottage (PSP team)
The Magdalen House (Program team)
Nonprofit Team of the Year: Mega
National Breast Cancer Foundation (Support Services team)
Uplift Education (Road to College and Career team)
Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (Hospice team)
Organization of the Year: Micro
Camp Impact
Constellation of Living Memorials
ECLAT Foundation
Greater Dallas Planning Council
Remembering Black Dallas
Organization of the Year: Small
Community Garden Kitchen of Collin County
DFW Asylum Seeker Housing Network
LightPath Health
Ruthie’s for Good
The Wellness Center for Older Adults
Organization of the Year: Midsize
Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County
Brighter Days (formerly Rainbow Days)
Cafe Momentum
ManeGait
T.D. Jakes Foundation
Trust for Public Land
Wesley-Rankin Community Center
Organization of the Year: Large
Big Thought
Forest Forward
Mosaic Family Services
Organization of the Year: Mega
Austin Street Center
Center for Transforming Lives
Combined Arms
Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation
Sharing Life Community Outreach
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Social Enterprise
Black to the Lab
First Step Staffing
Lionheart Children’s Academy
On the Road Garage
Peace in the Home Family Services
Volunteer of the Year
Janeth Araiza, Jubilee Park & Community Center
Cindy Dake, Christian Women’s Job Corps of Greater Arlington
Sally Evans, Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Miranda Racca, Miracle League of North Texas
Joan van Vliet, Alzheimer’s Association
Jeff York, Baylor Scott & White Health
Patti Zito, Refresh NTX
DALLAS (April 20, 2026) — The Potter’s House of Dallas confirms that Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts is recovering following an accidental injury sustained on Saturday, April 18, while spending time with her family.
While playing on a trampoline with her daughter, Pastor Jakes-Roberts experienced a fall that required immediate medical attention and hospitalization. Doctors have confirmed fractures in her neck, along with related spinal impact. She is currently under strict medical guidance and is expected to make a full recovery in time.
In a message shared on her official social media platforms, Jakes-Roberts addressed the incident directly, offering clarity and gratitude:
“Last night was scary. I was almost paralyzed, but God didn’t see fit to let that be my story. I was playing a game with my Ella on the trampoline and landed on my neck. Instantly, I heard several pops in my neck. She called her dad, who called 911″, remarked Jakes-Roberts. Two hospitals, several scans, and hours later we learned that I fractured my neck, herniated discs, and endangered areas of my spine that could have left me paralyzed.”
Jakes-Roberts continued, “One disc up or one disc lower and this would’ve been a different testimony. Instead, I’ll be wearing this brace for 4-6 weeks to keep my neck stable and avoid further damage. Rest and recovery will give my body a chance to heal. I’ll be laying low while I navigate this injury with wisdom. I’m soaking in the presence of God and lots of love from friends and family. So, if you see me and I’m out and about, but moving slow just know that I’m still the birthday even with a neck brace.”
Jakes-Roberts remains in strong spirits and is approaching her recovery with the same faith and intentionality that have defined her ministry. In alignment with medical guidance, some upcoming engagements may be adjusted to prioritize her healing.
Church leadership emphasized that the incident was an accident and has been fully addressed by Jakes-Roberts herself. They ask the public and media to respect the clarity already provided and avoid speculation.
“The Jakes-Roberts family is grateful for the outpouring of prayers, support, and encouragement,” the church said in a statement. “Surrounded by family, leadership, and an incredible care team, Pastor Sarah is focused on recovery and looks forward to returning in due time.”
The Potter’s House of Dallas will share updates as appropriate through official channels.
About The Potter’s House of Dallas
The Potter’s House of Dallas is a global humanitarian organization and multicultural church founded by Bishop T.D. Jakes. Co-Senior pastoral leadership of Touré Roberts and Sarah Jakes Roberts led the 30,000 member church. With a commitment to spiritual growth, community impact, and cultural leadership, The Potter’s House serves members and partners worldwide through ministry, outreach, and media.
For more information please visit:
https://thepottershouse.org/
Social: @tphdallas
“One of the most important lessons I have learned in life and leadership is this, your internal knowing will often outpace your external visibility. I have launched companies with more belief than budget. I have led ministries that grew slowly, long before they became significant. I have stood in rooms that felt small while carrying a vision that felt anything but small,” Pastor Roberts said.
“In those seasons, you are tempted to question yourself. You wonder if the size of the room is a reflection of the size of your calling. It is not. There is a difference between what you see and what you know. Knowing is not arrogance. It is not hype. It is a settled conviction about who you are and what you are assigned to build, even when the evidence is minimal.”
He continued: “Everything big starts small. But not everyone can endure small seasons without shrinking. That is where knowing matters most. Some of my most formative years were quiet. Building teams few people noticed,” Roberts said. “Strengthening systems before scale. Developing discipline, stewardship, and character before visibility ever arrived. Those rooms were not restricting me, they were refining me. Unfolding is what happens when capacity is developed before expansion is visible.”
“If you know who you are before the spotlight, you will not confuse slow growth with small calling. You will not edit your conviction to match your environment. You will build anyway. And one day, when the spotlight does come, it will simply reveal what was already formed in the dark. Protect what you know. The room will catch up,” he concluded.
This year is the 50th that Bishop T.D. Jakes has preached the good word and the 30th that his Potter’s House has spread that message from its southern Dallas sanctuary. The Potter’s House has grown to become one of the largest churches in the country and now occupies four campuses and operates nearly 60 distinct ministries. Now that he’s trading pastoring for podcasting, we caught up with the famous Christian clergyman.
It has been 20 years since I had the honor of meeting you and profiling you for a D Magazine cover story. A lot has changed since then, including your look. Talk to me about the beard. I’ve had the beard off and on. It just went white. I earned this gray hair, and I wear it unashamedly. I’m at that age and stage now. And I’m enjoying it.
We’re talking almost a year to the day since you had a massive heart attack onstage in front of your congregation. Tell me what you learned from that experience.
Well, that was a very interesting experience, because my first thought was “God, can you wait five minutes till I am off here? Did I have to have the heart attack in front of the world?” Had I got to the hospital five minutes later, I probably wouldn’t have made it. Of course it’s been a point of reflection, and it has a lot to do with me bearing down even harder on “What do you want to do with the second half of your life?” It leads you to an inflection point that I was headed toward anyway, but it expedited it because I’m quickly moving into the legacy stage of my life, while I am still able-bodied and still have the energy to be able to contribute.
“Part of transition is being mentally and emotionally and spiritually in a place where you can let go.” -Bishop T.D. Jakes
The second half of your life? If I do the math, that means you plan to live to 140.
Well, I don’t mean that literally. I mean, you can die at 20. None of us really knows when that’s going to come. So I don’t make my decisions based on dates that aren’t promised to me. Let’s not quibble about numbers, because who knows who will outlive who.
In July, you handed leadership of the church to your daughter Sarah and her husband, Touré. How often do you go to church and then, after the service, tell one of them, “That’s not the way I would have preached it”?
You know, part of the transition is being mentally and emotionally and spiritually in a place where you can let go. One of the things that helps me to let go of what I was doing is to grab hold to what I am doing now and what I’m about to do. It’s not always easy because I’m used to being in charge of everything, and I do preach from time to time at the church. But I’m giving them an opportunity to translate the Gospel into the language of their generation and to reach their generation without a whole lot of my baby boomer ideas in this Gen X world.
Do you announce ahead of time when you’re going to be preaching, and then do the seats fill up a little quicker on those Sundays?
[laughs] Yes, I do announce when I’m going to preach, and I would say they fill up a little differently. The old-timers that are used to my style of preaching are more apt to come out than the younger ones. I think Touré and Sarah draw as many people, but they may be in different age demographics.
Your new podcast is called NXT Chapter With T.D. Jakes. Could you not afford to buy an E?
[laughs] I think it is our attempt to be hip and modern and edgy—and to prepare you for the fact that I’m going to be talking to all kinds of people, not just preachers, but businesspeople, CEOs, hip-hop artists, movie directors. I’m concerned about the direction our country is going in. I think that this country desperately needs a voice that brings them together and brings some sense of calmness and unity in the midst of our diversity like never before.
For your first episode, you landed kind of a famous guest, Oprah Winfrey. How nervous were you talking to her?
I’ve been to her house several times. So I wasn’t nervous at all. In the interview that I had with Oprah, we almost forgot the audience was out there. Because we do have conversations. There’s certain things we understand about each other. To hear how she thinks and who she hires and why she did her work in Chicago as opposed to Hollywood—there were so many things to talk about. One of the things that I admire most about her is she always knows when to walk away. She walked away from the talk show at the right time. A lot of times people don’t know when to quit. She’s been masterful at knowing when to cash in her chips.
Besides the podcast, what else is the T.D. Jakes Group working on?
We’re doing real estate development. We’re acquiring property. We’re redeveloping mixed-income housing. I’m doing entrepreneurial work because we’ve had 350,000 Black women laid off in a week. We’re talking about educated, highly trained women. Our Good Soil app connects them to capital. African American women and Latina women go into business more readily than any other people group, but they don’t have equal access to credit. And I’m still writing books. I’m writing a book called Anchor, because the anchor allows a ship to move in a storm but not lose its way. We have to have the flexibility to change with the times, but we have to be anchored in our core values so that we don’t drift into becoming something that we actually are not.
Part of the next chapter of your life, at least recently, has gotten pretty complicated. Help me understand some of the recent headlines that I’ve read about you.
Well, I don’t think it’s getting complicated. Disinformation and misinformation didn’t just hit me. It hit all kinds of people all over the country. When you’re a highly visible person, you get a turn. And it was my turn. But it wasn’t true, and the FBI never called me, and my wife didn’t move to Canada, and I was never subpoenaed or anything like that. But I’m a big boy. I’m a grown man. And I am not upset. I knew the FBI wasn’t going to find me on the tape anywhere. I’ve never had any idea of the people’s personal lives with which I do business. I got a chance to be the only preacher on Revolt [television network] preaching the Gospel to the hip-hop world. That’s what I was interested in, and I had no involvement in any of their personal lives.
All right, Bishop. You take care of yourself.
I’m going to do it. I’m doing it. I’m trying.
Social Tags: @d_Magazine
