Tonight I’m speaking at the Aquarium about Camden. A few months ago, the Philly Business Journal reached out to me about their event: Corridors of Opportunity: What’s Happening in Camden? I’ve been way behind on things here — in part because my wedding (!) is this Saturday — but I was doing prep for the event today when I realized the event costs $100. 

This is tough. On one hand, I think it’s critical for local and dissenting voices to be at these types of events targeted towards business or political elites. A regular condition of my acceptance on these types of panels is that a Camden resident be represented (happy to be joined on the panel by LAEDA’s Ray Lamboy). But it drives me nuts when we have these conversations at a price point that actively excludes residents.

So let’s have this conversation here. I want to hear from residents and other readers with their thoughts. You can email me, text me, tweet at me: 

So often our Camden conversations happen w/o CMD residents — honored to be on panel w/ @LAEDA1's Ray Lamboy. But aware that this event 2/x

— Stephen Danley (@SteveDanley) June 28, 2016

So if CMD residents have something they want to say to business leaders — let me know. Let's amplify 4/x @KeithEricBenson @BIGNOIZEINCCMD

— Stephen Danley (@SteveDanley) June 28, 2016

I’d love to hear your thoughts on what’s working in the Camden business community, what needs work, and even your thoughts on how I should handle this panel. Thanks!

Update: You guys are so great (and so generous with your thoughts). Here’s a few of the responses I’m getting on twitter. I’ll continue to update:

@SteveDanley @Wren1375 @MonekeRagsdale @VedraChandler Please invite them to come to spend a day in Camden.

— Gayle Christiansen (@gaylelyag) June 28, 2016

@SteveDanley @Wren1375 @MonekeRagsdale @VedraChandler eat in the city, catch a little league game, attend a Monday pm Village meeting, etc.

— Gayle Christiansen (@gaylelyag) June 28, 2016

@gaylelyag @SteveDanley @MonekeRagsdale @VedraChandler Carl Dranoff? Usual panelists, not reflective of the rest of CMD. Biz focus H2Ofront

— Wren Ingram (@Wren1375) June 28, 2016

@SteveDanley If they wanted the stakeholders, then that's an expensive price to way in. That's no way to include the residents

— MoNeke Ragsdale (@MonekeRagsdale) June 28, 2016

@SteveDanley just ask will their be job opportunities for Camden residents and if not "qualified" will they be willing to train & invest

— BigJoe (@BIGNOIZEINCCMD) June 28, 2016

@SteveDanley what I m mean by invest is are they willing set up tuition grants and schooling to better equip our residents to be successful

— BigJoe (@BIGNOIZEINCCMD) June 28, 2016

@SteveDanley are they willing to help create a system where we can grow to not just be employees but one day be business owners themselves

— BigJoe (@BIGNOIZEINCCMD) June 28, 2016