MHPS November Be The Change Award recipient Danielle Skogan has worked to empower girls and women locally and internationally.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
Hatter Danielle Skogen has been named Medicine Hat Police Service’s November Be The Change Award recipient for her work empowering girls and women from Alberta to Ethiopia.
Raised in Medicine Hat, Skogen left the city to attend post-secondary school, graduating with a Bachelor of Education in 2011. She then worked as a teacher in Calgary for approximately one year, before deciding to move to Guatemala and volunteer as a language teacher.
While in Guatemala, Skogen witnessed “rampant gender inequality” and decided to partner with U.S.-based foundation REALgirl Empowerment Programs to bring structured programs which support and empower girls and women in the region.
Skogen eventually established a permanent empowerment program in Guatemala called SERnina (To Be a Girl), which has connected with more than 2,000 children since its establishment in 2015.
Skogen returned to Medicine Hat in 2020 but continues to work with REALgirl Empowerment Programs as the director of international programs. Most recently, she has worked to implement and develop empowerment programs in Ethiopia.
She also works as a life and leadership coach, regularly hosting free empowerment workshops for women locally. And provides support to local charities, non-profit organizations, health and wellness centres, schools and other community institutions.
In her free time, Skogen volunteers with various local organizations, like Saamis Immigration and the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat.
