Tania Fernandes Anderson was born in Cape Verde. At the age of 10, she immigrated from Cape Verde to Roxbury, two places that she says formed the foundation of her unwavering commitment to the community. Councilor Anderson was elected to the Boston City Council on November 2, 2021, becoming the first African immigrant and Muslim-American elected to the Boston City Council. She proudly represents District 7, consisting of Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway, and part of the South End.

Before serving as Councilor, Tania was the Executive Director of Bowdoin Geneva Main Streets, a parent advocate with the Boston Public Schools, program manager for a homeless women’s shelter, a business owner, and a child social worker. She has also been a foster mom to 17 kids while raising two biological children. 

The equitable distribution of mental health services has always been near to the Councilor’s heart, which is why she founded Noah’s Advocate. Noah’s Advocate is a trauma-informed mental health nonprofit that serves underrepresented communities. Tania is also the founder of a non-profit that supports at-risk youth through theatre, fashion, and art. The nonprofit’s shows and performances routinely sell out the historic Strand Theatre in Dorchester.

Councilor Anderson is passionate about economic opportunity and mobility, particularly for those who have been disenfranchised and left seeking opportunities and support from the margins. She will work to help create good jobs and stronger support systems for small business entrepreneurs because she believes that fostering and cultivating economic development and growth in Boston's small business districts is one of the paths to addressing the racial wealth gap.

As Councilor, Tania will work to ensure that Municipal Government is actively working for the people of Boston. Councilor Anderson is committed to enhancing constituent services for District 7 residents, prioritizing affordable homeownership, monitoring development, so residents are not displaced, centering District 7’s Age Strong population through aging with dignity support programs and initiatives, and multigenerational recreation. She will also work to improve the quality of life for residents by making sure that the City’s COVID-19 recovery efforts are equitable, collaborating with public health officials for a comprehensive approach to addressing mental health, violence, and substance abuse issues, decriminalizing our youth and helping to create jobs for their future.

Councilor Anderson is committed to creating a “District 7 Action Plan” that will begin by conducting research on the District’s strengths and weaknesses. Data generated from the research will then be used to drive meaningful, effective, and efficient responses to district challenges and community concerns. 

Councilor Anderson attended the John D. O’Bryant High School of Mathematics and Science in Roxbury and Springfield College. She is the proud mother of a US Marine and a young emerging Artist. In her spare time, Tania enjoys sewing gowns and playwriting.