Page 70 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2024

GIVING BACK
story by Cherie Ward photos by The DEN
Take a step into the world of the Dynamic Enrichment Network and you’ll see, a lot is going
on. Affectionately called The DEN, the Gulfport collaborative space has art, science, creative thinking, and technology all under one roof.
But the programs aren’t just for children and teens, adults
are encouraged to participate too. It’s a place where your
children can have an art adventure or take a STEM course while you melt away the day with a “Cookies and Cocktails” event or a fitness class.
There are also photography camps, chess instruction and tournaments, dance parties, and foreign language courses. The DEN recently hosted a “Dinner in the Dark” event where guests learned a non-visionary way to eat, a “Haunted Trail” extravaganza complete with music and local food trucks, and the center’s inaugural theatrical performance “Beauty and the Beast” held at the Mary C O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center in Ocean Springs.
The 10,000-square-foot enrichment center’s classes, activities, and events are based on the surrounding communities’ wants and needs. Programs continually evolve so there’s always something fresh and new to learn.
“My vision is not to only offer classes but bring in programs and
experiences we have never had here before on the Gulf Coast,” said Executive Director Alina Goldin.
The DEN
55 51st St., Gulfport 228.265.9818 www.thedenms.com
70 | December 2024
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living