Empowering Survivors Through Self-Defense, Healing, and Hope
Empty Hand, Open Heart is a North Texas nonprofit dedicated to equipping survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking with the tools to reclaim their power—body, mind, and spirit.
Founded and led by world champion martial artist and fifth-degree black belt Tracy Dickey, our organization brings trauma-informed self-defense and karate training directly to women and children in shelters, transitional homes, and recovery programs across the Dallas–Fort Worth area. We also provide ongoing classes and support in our Plano-based studio, where survivors can build strength, resilience, and community in a safe and affirming environment.
Since our founding, we’ve served over 2,556 survivors and families—empowering each one through skills that foster confidence, boundaries, and healing after abuse. We’ve also contributed more than 1,000 volunteer hours, thanks to our all-volunteer staff and board who serve with humility, passion, and faith.
Whether we’re outfitting a newly free survivor with her first uniform, showing a young mother how to defend herself and her children, or partnering with shelters, schools, and law enforcement—we believe real safety begins with dignity. Through every kick, kata, and conversation, we remind survivors: you are strong, you are not alone, and you are worthy of protection.
Our work is grounded in community partnerships, including the Plano Police Department, Plano Chamber of Commerce, and First United Bank. We also offer anti-bullying programming to children in low-income neighborhoods, helping prevent cycles of violence before they begin.
Every dollar raised helps us provide free training, uniforms, outreach materials, home safety kits, and specialized protective gear to ensure survivors receive the same quality instruction as anyone walking into a karate dojo—with dignity, not pity.
Healing happens through love, faith, and action. Join us as we open hearts and strengthen hands—one survivor at a time.
Empty Hand, Open Heart exists to empower survivors of abuse, domestic violence, and sex trafficking by helping them reclaim their strength and identity through love, prayer, and trauma-informed self-defense training. Our mission is to walk alongside women and children on their healing journey—from survival to strength—reminding them that they are whole, worthy, and never alone.
Give with Purpose
$4,000 — Funds a Full-Force Training Suit
Sponsor a full-force training suit so survivors can safely practice life-saving self-defense in realistic, empowering scenarios.
$2,000 — Sustain a Sanctuary
Keep our Plano training studio open for a full month—providing a trauma-informed space for healing, prayer, and strength-building.
$300 — Deliver Hope to Shelters
Fuel our travel to DFW shelters for one month—bringing safety, skill, and encouragement to women and children on-site.
$100/month — Keep Classes Safe
Help maintain essential training gear like gloves, pads, and shields—keeping each session safe, hygienic, and effective.
$150 — Secure a Safe Home
Gift a survivor a Home Safety Kit with a Ring Video Doorbell and a door-stopper device to help protect her next chapter.
$25 — Outfit a Warrior
Provide one survivor with a complete karate uniform, belt, and patch—reminding her she belongs and she’s strong.
At Empty Hand, Open Heart, we believe that every survivor deserves empowerment, dignity, and safety, regardless of background or circumstances. Here’s how we make that belief real:
No qualifying criteria. Any woman referred to us through our trusted community partners—shelters, clinics, counseling centers, faith-based organizations—is welcomed unconditionally.
No financial barriers. All of our services—including trauma-informed self-defense training, uniforms, outreach resources, and safety tools—are provided completely free of charge.
No one is turned away. Our focus is on honoring each woman’s path toward healing and wholeness, not on ability to pay or past experience.
Trauma-informed, faith-rooted care. With each interaction, we seek to offer compassionate training shaped by spiritual dignity, psychological safety, and empowerment through movement.
Community partnerships fueling access. Through ongoing collaboration with organizations such as the Plano Police Department, DFW shelters, Plano Chamber of Commerce, and First United Bank, we ensure safe entry points for any survivor seeking support.
Our Deliverable Promise:
Every survivor referred gets a personalized training experience—including a uniform kit, classes in a trauma-aware environment, and access to home safety tools.
Inclusivity is non-negotiable. Race, age, socioeconomic status, faith tradition, ability, or trauma background do not affect eligibility—our only requirement is the woman’s desire to build strength and healing.
By centering equity—not as an afterthought but as the bedrock of our mission—we live the conviction that true safety and empowerment must be accessible to all, never conditional.
Organization name
Empty Hand Open Heart
Causes
Domestic/Family Violence & Advocacy
Operating Budget
Less than $100,000
Counties Served
Collin, Dallas, Denton
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American
BIPOC Leadership
Neither/None
Address
1506 CAPITAL AVE STE 200