Mexico is often thought of as a place of violence, corruption and drugs.

These things do exist. But they are far from the whole story. The majority of Mexico is peaceful, full of rich culture and wonderful people.

The Heart of Mexico seeks to tell the whole story.

Click  here to view the entire project. 

Mexico is a country deeply rooted in tradition. Women have traditionally been homemakers, wives and mothers while men have worked outside the home. But with each passing  generation, women face the challenge of staying true to tradition while also carving their own path.

Just Go features Eréndira María Esther Robledo Tapia, who says she married her husband on the condition that she would continue working outside the home. She passed this sense of independence along to her daughters and in the seven years since her husband passed away, she has renewed it in herself.

This piece was awarded 2nd place by NPPA in their Monthly Multimedia Project Contest for November 2013.

Just Go

Josefina Rosales Centeno has seen Mexico go through many changes in her 87 years, but for her one thing remains the same- a woman’s place is in the kitchen. Even though she built her candy business by herself from the ground up, she doesn’t view herself as an independent woman who has made her place in the world. For her, it’s just the way she is.

The Way I Am