Terrence and Ciara left Austin, Texas and built a life in Mérida, Yucatán, two and a half years ago with their two kids. This episode of The Hive, recorded live at our Thursday night community meetup at La Plancha Park in Centro, Mérida, goes straight at the question most people ask first: is it actually safe?

Their answer isn't theoretical. Ciara gave birth in Mérida, and they talk openly about what that healthcare experience was like, what it took to get residency, and the exact moment they realized they could let their daughter play outside without watching over their shoulder. Terrence says it plainly: he knows she's going to be good, and he means it literally, in real time, watching her play.

They talk about what pushed them to finally go, how they prepared for the move, and what daily life looks like now, including schools, driving, and the slower pace that changed how they parent. They talk about what it did for their marriage, and about letting go of a kind of vigilance they didn't realize they'd been carrying until it was gone.

The Black Mérida Experience exists for exactly this question. If you are a Black family asking whether Mérida is actually safe, this is the most direct answer we have on record, and it comes from people who are still living it.

If this is the question that's been holding you back, what would it take to see the answer for yourself?

See Mérida for Yourself