News Coverage of All for One
Annual All for One event tackles current issues (Mid-Hudson News) - March 9, 2020
'All for One' organizations to give out food at Poughkeepsie Galleria (Poughkeepsie Journal) - May 22, 2020
Muslim community brings diverse groups together in 'All for One' event (Poughkeepsie Journal) - June 18, 2019
Mid-Hudson Poughkeepsiejournal.com March 12, 2018.
Student captures hardships in refugee crisis through poetry (Poughkeepsie Journal) - November 23, 2017
Community leaders: Islam is about peace, not violence (Poughkeepsie Journal) - January 31, 2016
All For One Events Media
Religious communities come together for fourth annual “All for One” event
FISHKILL – Dozens of locals from a variety of religious backgrounds came together for the fourth annual “All for one and one for all-united we stand, divided we fall” event, hosted by Dr. Seema Rizvi, the Mid Hudson Islamic Association and other local religious organizations.
Dr. Rizvi spoke to the growing hate crime in this country and around the world, pointing to a handful of incidents from last year alone.
“When I see the rise in hatred and marginalization, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, my objective is based on addressing conflicts and issues related to humanity,” said Dr. Rizvi. “My objective is based mostly on the universal declaration of human rights.”
As the divide in the country grows, it makes having an event like this even more meaningful for Dr. Rizvi.
“In this room, I see a huge gathering full of diversity, compassion and enthusiasm,” she said to the crowd. “This shows we are truly united, not divided. The question is: why are we seeing more violence and mass shootings? It is time to focus on who we are. We are strong when we are together and strongest and when we act together.”
Mark Dema, a retired English teacher who taught poetry, performed an original composition on bringing people together. Before he performed, he gave a speech on how all religions share the same core values.
As a longtime friend of Rizvi’s, Dema appreciates what she is doing for the community in hosting this event each year.
“I see the country as divisive right now, and it’s a good thing, because it’s encouraging people to communicate with each other,” Dema said. “Once you communicate and realize your commonality, it’s all good, so [she]’s doing a good thing.”
Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, State Senator Susan Serino (R, Hyde Park) and Fishkill Town Supervisor Robert LaColla each spoke during the event on how they are working to address the climate of hate in this country on the local level.
Molinaro spoke about how the county appointed a human rights commissioner to address ongoing issues related to human rights.
“Too many times as a community, we have had to come together to recognize that our nation was built on a fundamental belief: that we are endowed with unalienable rights,” he said.
Serino talked about her Serino’s Superstars program, which acknowledges students who have shown an act of kindness and respect.
“It’s amazing to go to the schools and every one of the kids that we have given the certificates to have had the whole class behind them,” Serino said. “We need that message of kindness and respect with everything that is going on in this country today.”
LaColla was awarded for his work in improving the quality of human rights for the community he serves, along with Vassar College chaplain Rev. Samuel Speers. LaColla spoke to the crowd about how society often moves faster than the government.
“Typically by the time the legislation gets through, whatever the problem was has already changed,” he said.
Over the last three years, FBI data reported a 17 percent rise in hate crimes. Additionally, there has been a 23 percent increase in religious hate crimes and a 37 percent increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes.
The organizations who worked alongside the Mid Hudson Islamic Association to put on this year’s event included the Dutchess Human Rights Commission, the Mid Hudson Refugee organization, and the Dutchess County Interfaith Council.
All for One group holds community food drive
POUGHKEEPSIE — The “All for One” Food Drive Community Effort community initiative hosted a food drive outside of the Poughkeepsie Galleria on Sunday to provide groceries to Dutchess County families impacted by food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sarah Salem, director of Development for Dutchess Outreach, weighed in on the growing hunger crisis in the area.
“Even before this crisis in Dutchess County, 27,000 individuals were considered food insecure. That’s around nine percent of the population,” the chair said.
“Now that COVID has hit our community, we’re seeing in our organization, individuals who are coming back after 20 years of not needing our services.”
Food donations were collected from a drop-off spot in Barnegat Road in Poughkeepsie between May 28 and May 30. Around 1,300 boxes of food donations in total were collected and distributed to families in need via a drive-thru.
Dr. Seema Rizvi and Dr. Rabi Sinha, the organizer of the initiative presented a check for $5,000 raised by community donations through GoFundMe to Dutchess Outreach, which was accepted by board member Todd Bender.
Todd Bender, center, accepted the check for Dutchess Outreach
Tara Whalen, associate director of Dutchess Outreach, praised their donation and fundraising efforts.
She said the Drs. Rizvi “are doing a tremendous amount of work to battle the uptick in food insecurity. The drive-thru food distribution was a spectacular idea. Hundreds of people were able to get food at the event. When combined with the very generous donation to Dutchess Outreach, the Rizvis will be feeding several hundred more people in need.”
Dr. Rizvi expressed her gratitude for the overall generosity of the community.
“The idea of doing food boxes is also for the community working together to show the sensitivity and compassion,” she said. “I’m very blessed that we have a beautiful community.”
Both volunteers and families showed up an hour before it was set to start, which touched State Senator Sue Serino.
“People lined up here at 12 o’clock, knowing that it started at one,” she said. “I can tell you from talking to hundreds and hundreds of people each week that aren’t collecting their unemployment, that they’re desperate for food. And it’s evident today that you’re getting people coming through.”
While attendees were delighted by the generosity of the community, they also expressed concern around the ongoing riots across the country that emerged after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Both Serino and her opponent in the 2020 State Senate election, Karen Smythe, offered their thoughts on the matter.
“Now is it time more than ever that we should be united and not divided,” said Serino. “We need more kindness and respect in our country.”
“I feel very, very strongly that we need to be supporting everyone in our community,” said Smythe, who lent her support to the food drive as a volunteer.
Dr. Rizvi expressed a desire to host an event similar to her annual All for One solidarity discussions that will address the recent incidents. She also hopes to start a food drive for families in the City of Beacon in the near future following the success of this food drive.
All for One' organizations to give out food at Poughkeepsie Galleria
Saba Ali Poughkeepsie Journal
Dutchess County religious and cultural organizations are hoping to provide around 1,500 families with free groceries through a food drive in the parking lot of Poughkeepsie Galleria this week.
At the "All for One" food drive, families can pick up boxes of non-perishable groceries or $25 gift cards on Sunday between 1 and 4 p.m. at the galleria parking lot near the Macy’s entrance.
For those looking to help, the initiative is asking for already packed boxes or bags of food such as pasta, peanut butter, cereal, flour, canned vegetables or tuna fish. Residents can also give $25 gift cards or donate through the initiative's GoFundMe page. More than $18,000 had been raised as of Friday afternoon.
Groceries can be dropped off at 159 Barnegat Road in Poughkeepsie, across from IBM, Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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