Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/105709
Gané G ané Bourgeois is, at 34, the old-timer at Madison House, just completing her 18th year, first as a high school volunteer for her church outreach mission, and now head of educational development for the Union Gospel Mission's Madison House facility. She's come a long way from those first nights sleeping on the floor at Madison House. She earned a BA and MA in education from the University of Washington, then taught six years for the Yakima School District before taking on the educational leadership for the mission. Asked what has kept her so focused on Madison House, she said it was her "family." "The kids encourage us to be a family," she explained. "I wanted to be a biochemist when I started college, and wanted that work to include methods for growing organic fruit. Then I went to South America at the end of my sophomore year." She believed the trip would help her to learn Spanish, but the summer away from her Madison House family convinced her that her life's work would be in Yakima with "her" kids, not in a foreign country, not as a biochemist. Back at school and before Christmas and spring breaks, Bourgeois would hear her friends yelling in the residence halls, "I'm going to Cabo!" She would reply, "I'm going to Yakima!" And she was excited about it. And she's stayed excited, trailing off into laughter or tears whenever talking about this rambunctious extended family of hers. Today, her time is spent teaching the Madison House students and helping them set and achieve long-term educational goals. The peals of laughter that punctuate her sentences are a cover for the emotional commitment she has made. Bourgeois developed the Madison House program to coordinate with the Yakima School District. As a certified teacher, she is able to access their records and work closely with students, particularly those who have been suspended, and get them credit for the work they do at Madison House. And she keeps the classroom teachers informed when the students are having problems. "Kids like ours fall through the cracks," she said, "because they don't want to admit they aren't getting it." Bourgeois makes sure they get it. When they do return to school classes, they're more willing to participate, and they get back on track. "And it's more fun for them to go to class when they have their homework completed," she said. Asked to give an example of how Madison House makes a difference to these youth, Bourgeois recounted last year's field trip to the University of Washington campus. One student who was not doing well at school, and who often was difficult to handle at Madison House, asked to go. She believed his interest in the field trip was simply to get out of school. "I was dreading taking him, because he was a handful," she said sheepishly. "I was really thinking how great it would be if he failed to show up!" She laughed the "Gané" laugh. "That's terrible for a teacher to say!" she said, shaking her head. Instead, the boy was at Madison House by 5:30 a.m., the first one there. "What am I going to do with him?" she thought. She warned him that all of his homework had to be done by the time he returned from the trip. "I want you to have a good time," she scolded, "but I'm going to be watching you. "I thought that if it was enough of a threat, he would decide not to go." But he went. And she watched him. Representing Leading Nurseries Since 1990 KRYMSK®1 (cv. VVA1) USPP 15,995 The Madison House program coordinates with the local school system. www.goodfruit.com Rootstock for Peaches, Nectarines,Plums & Apricots • Dwarfing, reduces tree vigor 35-50% • Tolerant to wet soils • Ripening time is advanced • Increased yield and fruit size efficiency reported KRYMSK®5 (cv. VSL2) USPP 15,723 Photo by Jim black Dwarfing Precocious Cherry Rootstock Educator Gané Bourgeois has been with Madison House—and her "family"—for 18 years. Bourgeois filmed the trip, and at the end, she asked each student to recount the value of the day. She expected the worst from this challenging boy. She turned the camera to him. But she saw no smirk or disinterest. Instead, he got tears in his eyes, and said, "I never thought I could go to college until I set foot on this campus." She turned off the camera. And both of them stood there crying. No laughter this time. "Any kid can go to college if they have the dream," she said. And the tears were back in her eyes. "He's still on track to graduate next year," she added. "He's not a stellar student, but he's planning to do his work here, so he won't be so distracted. My goal has been to keep on that kid and keep him in school. In their corner "These kids are so inspiring," she added. "They overcome more things than anyone should ever have to overcome. They pick themselves up and just keep going forward. I'm the cheerleader in the corner to help them get it done. "I've seen two Madison House kids graduate from college," she said, acknowledging that that number may not be as large as outsiders might hope. But she points to the lack of encouragement from their peers. "Their friends say they can't go to college." Most come to school with no awareness that they can aspire to be more than laborers. Parents often get blamed for the problems these kids have, said Bourgeois, but she thinks that they support them in the way they know how. "There's no animosity. They support their kids." The breakdown, she thinks, is that the parents don't speak the language. They don't have the education. And they are embarrassed about these failures. As cheerleader for this squad of children of laborers, Bourgeois is on a mission. She will be watching them. And she'll keep on them to keep them in school and on a track to a better life. • KRYMSK®6 (cv. LC-52) USPP 16,114 Dwarfing Precocious Cherry Rootstock KRYMSK®7 (cv. L2) USPP 16,353 Dwarfing Precocious Cherry Rootstock KRYMSK®86 (cv. AP1) USPP 16,272 Compatible with Peach, Nectarine, Plum, Apricot & Almond • Cold hardy • Precocious • Excellent production • Vigorous similar to seedling • Excellent root anchorage • Tolerates many soil conditions B10® (cv Mich 96) USPPAF • Cold Hardy • Similar to M9 Pajam®2 for vigor and yield efficiency • Cold Hardy STONEWALL™ Hybrid Willow Windbreak • Tolerates many soil conditions • Fast growing • Good fast-growing Windbreak *Information given above is from trials all around the world. California commercial growers and nurseries are required to purchase Krymsk® from Sierra Gold Nursery, Brights Nursery, Fowler Nursery, or Duarte Nursery. Se are…rvices to gro w ers Info@treeconnect.com www.treeconnect.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER FEBRUARY 1, 2013 11