Healing by Hand: How a Philly Artist Is Using Card-Making to Empower Communities

By Kendra Hall

PHILADELPHIA, PA — After more than 30 years of working in social services, Nancy Vickers thought her days of direct impact were behind her. But a quiet creative spark — and an undeniable calling — led her to start something new. Not in an office. Not with case files. But with cardstock, glue, and intention.

Now, as the founder of Pieces of Me, a handmade greeting card line based in Philadelphia, Vickers is using her artistic gifts to bring healing, connection, and empowerment to her community — one crafted message at a time.

“Every card I make carries a piece of me,” Vickers said. “It’s about reminding people they’re seen.”

A Social Worker’s Second Act

For 24 of her 30+ years in the social services field, Vickers worked as a case manager, supporting families, youth, and individuals facing complex challenges. But even in retirement, she couldn’t let go of her desire to serve.

In 2021, she launched Pieces of Me — initially as a for-profit business — before realizing its deeper potential. Today, Vickers regularly donates cards and facilitates free workshops for schools, nonprofit organizations, and underserved communities across Philadelphia.

“I wanted to build something that speaks life,” she said. “Something that uplifts and affirms.”

Cards That Carry a Message — and a Mission

Each handmade card is crafted with a mix of bold design and quiet emotion — personalized to reflect encouragement, reflection, and authenticity. In addition to individual sales, Vickers donates cards to nonprofit events, senior centers, youth gatherings, and healing spaces.

She’s worked with organizations including:

• As I Plant Seeds

• Sisters With An Agenda

• V_U_O_T_S (Victoria's Urban Outreach Tutoring Service)

These partnerships allow her to lead themed workshops focused on affirmation writing, storytelling through paper, and giving voice to unspoken emotions. She often raffles cards or offers them as gifts during sessions, making every moment of creative exchange meaningful.

Events Rooted in Community and Empowerment

Vickers has a busy season ahead, with three impactful events on her spring calendar:

• On April 24, she’ll be present at a community baby shower hosted by JSJ Community Health Partnership and Keystone First. She’ll donate cards to new mothers and offer a live demonstration, with plans for a follow-up card-making class with 10 expecting mothers.

• On May 24, she’ll appear as a guest facilitator at the Dream More Teen Summit, hosted by Jewelz Foundation Incorporated at the Willingboro Public Library in New Jersey. Vickers will lead teens in an entrepreneurship and creative expression workshop, guiding them through the process of crafting their own cards and affirmations.

• On May 30, she’ll participate in New Era Queening’s Happy Hour Experience, a Philadelphia-based event celebrating Black womanhood and entrepreneurship. Guests will make cards and write messages to themselves, with proceeds going to the organization’s Blazer Vault, which donates clothing to local teen girls.

“Each of these events is a reminder that creativity is a tool for healing,” Vickers said. “And every community deserves access to that.”

A Vision That Extends Beyond Paper

Looking ahead, Vickers hopes to secure funding to expand Pieces of Me into a full-service community offering — with no-cost workshops available to schools, shelters, and organizations that support emotional and mental wellness.

Her long-term mission is clear: use art to help people tell the stories they’ve been holding in — and remind them they’re worthy of being heard.

Her hands may craft cards, but her heart is crafting legacy.

“I’ve seen what these cards can unlock,” she said. “They open people up — not just to others, but to themselves.”

Contact Nancy Vickers and Pieces of Me:

• Instagram: @piecesofme__

• Email: [email protected]