"Fierce Gals" Teach Design Students a Lesson

Posted on: May 5, 2009 in People & Places

Thirty miles south of the border, a small ranching village is trying not to turn into a ghost town. And students from The University of Arizona are adding their skills to that effort.

Five years ago, the only industry left the small town of Fronteras and left every manner of devastation in its wake. A group of women, un-elected and un-trained, organized to ensure that the future of Fronteras was better than its present.

They were named, "Las Chicas Bravas," (the fierce gals) by a group of naysayers and it’s a name they now wear with pride.

Led by associate professor, Mark Frederickson, a group of UA students in architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning are working with the women to develop an economic infrastructure, create a sustainable community and even promote eco-tourism.

"This little town is going through tough times," Frederickson says. "The students are working with the town women, socio-culturally shaking the trees."