Rethinking Philadelphia: Opportunity Within Reach

Join Chamber members, community leaders, and concerned citizens to explore the link between educational attainment and economic advancement in Greater Philadelphia on Thursday, March 27 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. This interactive forum will highlight numerous initiatives, institutions, programs, and services that support the development of an educated middle class - a key factor in regional growth.

In a town-hall setting, Opportunity Within Reach will feature representatives from organizations that support education and skills training initiatives in a variety of capacities.

Panelists will be Trudyann Bryan, 2007 Summer Intern, Independence Blue Cross; Anthony J. Conti, Office Managing Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; Steve Jones, Community Outreach Officer, Elliott-Lewis Corporation; Tish Szymurski, Dean of Continuing and Professional Education, Neumann College; and Rosemary Turner, Vice President, Metro Philadelphia District, UPS.

The Moderator for Opportunity Within Reach will be Michael Days, Editor, Philadelphia Daily News. The Daily News will also examine the topic of educational attainment with an in-depth supplement to be published on March 26.

Only 20% of Philadelphians have college degrees, placing Philadelphia near the bottom, 92nd out of the country’s 100 largest cities, in the percentage of college-educated residents. By increasing education levels, residents will be better positioned to achieve in the workplace and contribute more fully.

"Our most overlooked asset for economic development is our people. If we develop our workforce first, our economy will follow suit," states A Tale of Two Cities, a report released in 2007 by the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board.

For the past nine years, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the Philadelphia Daily News have used Rethinking Philadelphia as a forum to explore important issues affecting our city and region. Past meetings have addressed the importance of investing in our youth through paid internships, how to maximize the potential of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and the growth of the bio-science industry.

To register for the event, click here. For more information, contact Rebecca Warburton at rwarburton@greaterphilachamber.com or 215-790-3675.