Press Release: Social Entrepreneurship Event provides Opportunities to Connect

November 14, 2006, Boston, MA. NetSAP-Boston and TIE-Boston hosted the Social Entrepreneurship panel on November 8th at the MIT Tang Center as a part of the ongoing community events schedule. The event was well attended by close to 70 people who came in, despite harsh weather, to listen to Amir Alexander Hasson, Shefali Sunderlal, Jay Paap and Azad Oommen talk about their organizations work in the different spheres of Social Entrepreneurship.

The panel discussion was preceded by dinner which allowed the attendees to network with these seasoned professionals in the social sector as well as with each other. Fernande Raine from Ashoka , in her inimitable style set the tempo of the discussion by elaborating on Social Entrepreneurship from its inception to its modern ubiquitous form. Amir, Founder of United Villages, talked about developing low-cost wireless technologies that will connect people at the bottom of the pyramid and enable them to access internet. By creating entrepreneurs in villages in Cambodia and India to promote these technologies, Amir's company empowers community with tools for development. Shefali, President of CRY-America, talked about CRY’s work in building sustainable development through dialogue and collaborative efforts with the governments, private sector and people to mitigate children rights violations in India. Jay Paap from Community Consulting Teams (CCT) talked about his organization's efforts in the local Boston area to help non profits build their organizational efficiency by providing voluntary management consultation. Azad, Director of Chapter Development, AIF, illustrated AIF’s efforts in eradicating poverty through holistic approaches to the problems. Each panelist also gave specific examples where their organizations have created impact in different ways.

The overriding theme of the panel discussion was participation in the first step to make sustainable changes to the lives of the people around us. The attendees were enthusiastic to know about different ways through which they could contribute to these organizations. This was evidenced by them staying long after the scheduled time to talk to the panel members. NetSAP-Boston introduced this idea in order to open to its members, the opportunities to contribute to the society and this panel discussion helped to galvanize that effort. Buoyed by the success, this event should be a permanent fixture in the forthcoming years for the NetSAP Boston chapter.

NetSAP-Boston organizes several community service events throughout the year. These events not only provide members the opportunity to contribute to the community but also serve as fund raisers for charities. Some events from the past include the Organic Farm volunteering, Food Bank volunteering and WGBH volunteering.

The organization encourages members and patrons to send their feedback and ideas on various community events to Siddharth Pandit, community service chair at NetSAP @ community@netsapboston.org . If you are interested in volunteering for NetSAP activities or sponsoring any event contact the NetSAP Executive board at board@netsapboston.org

About NetSAP-Boston:
Founded in 1995, the Network of South Asian Professionals of Boston (NetSAP-Boston) is a professional, 501c(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the professional, political, cultural and civic needs of the South Asian community in the Greater Boston area. We seek to unite South Asian professionals, nurture leadership, and build partnerships in the New England area through professional programs, networking events, and community service efforts. NetSAP-Boston is part of NetIP-NA, The Network of Indian Professionals, North America. For more information on events, membership and other initiatives, visit http://www.netsapboston.org. To learn more about NetIP North America and other chapters in other cities, visit www.netip.org.