When Paradise Bradford became a teen mom at 15, she had a lot to figure out by herself.
“I was emancipated and went through a tough time raising my children,” Bradford said. “I am now a mother of seven, so over the time of being a teen parent, all the way up to my 30th birthday, I had children.”
With a first-hand understanding of the teen parent experience, Bradford founded Pretty Passionate Hands (PPH), an Indianapolis organization that provides mentorship, education and more incredible resources to teen parents and other affected youth. The center is about a 3-minute drive from Butler’s campus, located at 327 Northern Ave.
The CDC found that, as of 2025, teen birth rates are declining across the United States, including in Indiana. However, teen pregnancy still remains a prominent public health and economic issue in Marion County. According to STATS Indiana, Marion County accounts for 20.3% of all teen mom births in the state. IU Health also found in their 2021 assessment for community health needs that the teen birth rate in Marion County is above the U.S. average. PPH works to address and meet the community need of programs for those affected by teen pregnancy.
The center boasts an incredibly diverse variety of services. PPH is both a licensed food pantry, childcare facility and even a licensed salon. Beyond these services, PPH runs a program for young girls’ empowerment called Ar’Promis Circle. The group ranges in age from 7 to 18 and focuses on mental health, workforce development and confidence building.
Josie Woods, a sophomore strategic communication and organizational communication double major, volunteers at PPH regularly. She enjoys the warm and friendly environment at PPH.
“Every time we go in … they come up and give you a hug,” Woods said. “It’s the same thing when you’re leaving.”
Outside of the time she spends helping at PPH, Woods has worked to create a larger movement of student volunteers on campus. While the recruitment efforts started within her sorority, Woods’ endeavors have expanded to multiple corners of campus. By spreading the word through friends and mutual friends, Woods has brought in several other student volunteers, and is actively recruiting students from the College of Education and Human Development to help tutor at PPH.
Sophomore criminology-sociology major Mariah Rivera is another regular volunteer.
“It’s so close, and it is not going to be something where you’re going to be bored,” Rivera said. “I find it really rewarding when we can sit there and talk to the teen parents that are coming in, and we get to maybe watch their baby for a bit.”
While much of PPH’s work is geared toward teen parents, that is not the only group they serve. All Bout Cuts (ABC) is another focal point of the organization. Through barbering and leadership training, ABC aims to make at-risk young men feel loved and supported while giving them tools to be successful leaders.
The depth of services speaks to the holistic approach Bradford takes with the center.
“Our core program is [about] teen parents, but it wraps around to the whole family after we get down to that,” Bradford said. “How can our teen parents be successful?”
Bradford’s own dedication also goes above and beyond the programs and outreach. A typical day for Bradford will include daily check-ins with each one of her teen moms. She wishes them a good morning, checks that they are in school, are at doctor’s appointments, and, if it is hot outside, if they are staying cool.
“These children that are in my organization are just as important to me as my children at home,” Bradford said. “I can get a call at 5 a.m, 3 p.m., 3 a.m., 7 p.m., and I’m gonna go. I’m very passionate about them. I may be the only 1% that shows up for them.”
A busy mom of seven, Bradford is always looking for more student volunteers. If one is seeking volunteer hours or interested in becoming involved in their community, PPH is right down the road, and so are hugs from Bradford.