OPEN London - community 2.0 or something like that

Usually I shudder at the thought of a networking group built around an ethnicity/creed/religion or any sort of singularity for it represents something as far removed from the concept of a community as is possible.So when a friend mentioned OPEN mid last year my initial reaction was dismissive,  Athar pressed on and it paid off! I checked out the Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs and Professionals (OPEN) and found a few things that set it apart from the usual suspects! they drummed on about being secular and non-political, they were concerning themselves with the ecosystem they 'lived in' as opposed to focusing everything for the benefit of 'back home' -  a bunch of integrated folks - that in itself scored well on my scale.I wasn't sold yet... but was curious to meet the few folks meeting up to explore bringing OPEN to London.

OPEN is from across the pond and it has successfully delivered to its mandate State side... so the Brit in me was curious as to why there was no OPEN London chapter ... clearly the centre of the multiverse should not only be represented but be leading the way!

My first meeting ,with what was to later become the group of charter members, was refreshing! against the odds these were people I could relate to, integrated, secular, progressive, inclusive... quite OPEN! (every pun intended) and determined to build a community not a singularity.

A little over a year on, OPEN London is launching in some style at Imperial College London (Sir Alexander Fleming Building) on the 20th of October 2013 and I am proud to be involved in building an enterprise focused, inclusive and open community at home in London.

Thank you for badgering me many moons ago Athar and thank you Naseem for bringing this to the centre of the multiverse and of course everyone else for bearing with me and my awkward ways and awkwardly open world view!