Historic Places
with Elsa Sevilla
Historic Places with Elsa Sevilla is a long-running documentary series on KPBS that explores the San Diego region’s rich, diverse, and often overlooked history—and beyond. Elsa pursued the vision of storytelling and met with KPBS to bring a documentary series to life. Co-produced with Guillermo Sevilla, the series is powered by his exceptional videography and editing skills, which help transform historical research into vivid, compelling stories.
Through in-depth research, on-location interviews, and powerful storytelling, Historic Places brings to life the stories of Indigenous communities who have lived in North America for millennia, as well as early Black, Jewish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese settlers, and everyday people who helped shape the region’s cultural and historical landscape. The series connects the past to the present, highlighting the importance of preservation, identity, and community.
As one of KPBS’s most-watched programs, the docuseries continues to educate and inspire audiences by documenting, preserving, and making history accessible and relevant to viewers of all ages.
Together with their son, Julian Sevilla, who also supports the production, the Sevilla family is at the heart of this meaningful storytelling—honoring the people and places that define our shared history.
From TV to Speaker
From television journalist to filmmaker, TV host to keynote speaker, Elsa Sevilla brings decades of experience, passion, and purpose to every stage. An Emmy-nominated and award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker, Elsa has produced 85 historical documentaries that uncover the untold stories of diverse communities. Her work has earned her numerous recognitions, including the prestigious Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for her lasting impact in the industry and a Proclamation from then Senator Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkns. But it’s the whispers throughout her life—and the obstacles she faced along the way—that helped shape her identity. Elsa has emerged as a leader, guided by history, grounded in her roots, and fueled by purpose. Today, she shares her journey as a keynote speaker, inspiring audiences with stories of resilience, cultural legacy, and the strength it takes to lead with authenticity. She regularly speaks at colleges, universities, nonprofit events, and corporate gatherings, empowering the next generation of leaders and changemakers through the power of storytelling.
Meet Elsa Sevilla
Elsa Sevilla grew up in Southeastern San Diego, where her passion for storytelling began in the first grade. By seventh grade, her mother suggested she consider a career as a radio announcer—but Elsa envisioned herself as a broadcast storyteller. At 14, she took her first job at the swap meet, where she learned how to connect with people—skills that would help her well throughout her career and life. She joined her high school newspaper, worked at what used to be NAVELEX, now NAVWAR, and later interned at both NBC San Diego and C-SPAN. She attended Southwestern College and then transferred to San Diego State University, where she earned her degree in Political Science. Elsa's first career job was at KGTV-10, where she quickly reported and produced stories for the station's CNN cut-ins. Just a few years into her career, Elsa and her partner, Guillermo Sevilla, founded Sevilla Productions, LLC, and in 2008, they launched Historic Places with Elsa Sevilla. Now in its 18th year on the air, the docuseries continues to showcase the region’s history and people. With more than 35 years as a filmmaker and journalist, Elsa remains dedicated to telling powerful stories that reflect the cultural richness of the region and the many contributions of women, people of color, and all communities.
Elsa Sevilla
My HerStory:
Bringing History to Life!