Victor Mercado at the Historic Sosa-Carrillo House. Photo credit: Dominic Rischard

El Sur is a digital content platform para la comunidad bilingüe de Tucson. Nuestras historias honran las diferentes formas de expresar nuestra Latinidad incluyendo, y más allá del Español.

We create culturally-forward stories, Instagram content, podcasts, videos, newsletters, and fresh content that resonates and captivates a nuestra gente. I am grateful to initial supporters like Visit Tucson, the Agave Heritage Festival, as well as friends, makers and creatives who said to me ‘we need this’ and who trusted El Sur to share their stories.

Tucson’s rich history has cemented our City as one of the world’s cultural epicenters. We have more than 4,500 years of history, arts and culture. Our musical traditions echo from backyard tocadas to the El Casino Ballroom to the streets of South 12th Ave. We are the home to one of the largest mariachi conferences in the country, the very cultural space that inspired Linda Ronstadt’s Canciones de mi Padre. There is so much history here.

There are also so many voices: from the past, present, and future with stories that are demanding to be heard: Stories of entire families who were punished in our very schools for speaking Spanish. The story of La Calle and generations of families who saw their community destroyed under the forces of urban renewal. Stories of new generations of entrepreneurs who continue to shape and re-shape Tucson in ways that celebrate nuestra lengua, nuestra comida, nuestras artes y cultura. Our culture is driving Tucson forward. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Victor Mercado was born in Nogales, Sonora and has lived in Tucson since 2001. His great-great uncle, W.E. Felix owned Tucson’s first dry goods store on Meyer Street in the 1800s. Victor’s grandfather Prici Mercado was a historian who chronicled the story of ambos Nogales in his books Ambos Nogales y Mis Memorias and Historias y Recuerdos de Ambos Nogales.

Victor brings to El Sur a deep understanding of media and communications, and most importantly a love of history and sharing the stories of the borderlands. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and is co-chair of the University of Arizona Hispanic Advisory Council.