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Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
African Festival of Boston Celebrates 15 Years with First-Ever Gala and Weekend of Culture
Boston is coming alive with the sights, sounds, and soul of Africa as the 15th Annual African Festival of Boston returns with its most dynamic celebration yet. BOSTON, MA, UNITED STATES, May 21, 2025 / / -- Boston is set to come alive with the sights, sounds, and soul of Africa as the 15th Annual African Festival of Boston returns with its most dynamic celebration yet. To mark this milestone year, organizers are introducing a brand-new Gala Night on Friday, August 15, followed by the beloved two-day outdoor festival on August 16–17 at Boston Common. For 15 years, the African Festival of Boston has served as a vibrant hub of cultural exchange, community empowerment, and artistic celebration. This year's theme — '15 Years of Cultural Connection and African Pride' — highlights the festival's journey, growth, and continued commitment to supporting African immigrants, diaspora artists, small businesses, and youth. 'This is more than a festival — it's a tribute to our heritage, resilience, and global influence,' said one of the organizers. 'Boston becomes a bridge between Africa and the world.' The inaugural Gala Night will be a formal, red-carpet event recognizing African excellence through awards, live performances, and distinguished guest appearances. Confirmed special guests include: • Annette Addo-Yobo, Former Miss Texas 2024 and First Runner-Up at the 2025 Miss America Pageant • African Ryou, cultural ambassador from South Korea • Fotocopy, Ghana's youth music sensation • Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), iconic Nigerian actor and global figure Following the Gala, the free outdoor festival will transform Boston Common into a vibrant African village, featuring authentic music, cuisine, fashion shows, wellness activities, storytelling, youth programming, arts and crafts, and performances by local and international artists. This family-friendly event promises an immersive experience for all ages and backgrounds. This year's festival is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors: the City of Boston, Boston Cultural Council, Mass Cultural Council, Meet Boston, AfroSurge Radio, Wellness Health Plan, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Eastern Bank, TD Bank, and many more. A special thank you to Trace+Plus, our official Global Media Partner, for amplifying the festival's message around the world. Event Highlights: • Gala Night: Friday, August 15 | Red Carpet, Awards & Performances | Formal Attire | Ticketed Event | RSVP at • Outdoor Festival: Saturday & Sunday, August 16–17 | Free Entry | Boston Common | All Ages Welcome All are invited to celebrate Africa's rich culture and lasting influence. Come connect, learn, dance, eat, and experience the joy of unity in diversity. For more information, tickets, or media inquiries: [email protected] Instagram: Mireille Tushiminina African Festival of Boston email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Epoch Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Pleads Guilty to Federal Corruption Charges
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson pleaded guilty to federal charges of embezzling $7,000 in public funds on May 5 at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The second-term city councilor was arrested by federal authorities in December 2024 and signed a plea agreement with prosecutors in April of this year. At the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston, District Judge Indira Talwani read charges and explained the defendant's rights to Fernandes Anderson, confirming that she understood the legal documents. When the clerk of the court asked whether Anderson pleaded guilty or not guilty, the 46-year-old defendant wept and answered, 'Guilty.' She is scheduled for sentencing on July 29. Anderson said she would resign from the city council after signing the plea agreement in April. Related Stories 5/2/2025 5/2/2025 After the plea hearing on Monday, she told reporters outside the courthouse that she will complete her transitional plan, and step down before her sentencing. 'District 7 doesn't deserve not to have a vote in the budget,' she said. Anderson was elected to the Boston City Council in 2021. According to the She was the first African immigrant and Muslim-American elected to the Boston City Council, representing District 7, consisting of Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway, and part of the South End. She said that she was working on a 'District 7 workbook,' entailing every important policy and project in the district. 'From the beginning when I decided that I needed to agree to a plea, I have been planning, so as to make sure that my staff was ok, that my constituents were ok, for this is a softer landing, that my family, my children were secured and ok,' Anderson said. A Transaction in the Bathroom According to the indictment, Anderson hired a family member (Staff Member A) to her city councilor office in late 2022, at an annual salary of approximately $65,000. In November 2022, Anderson emailed a City of Boston employee regarding her hiring of the staff, falsely representing that she and the staff member were not related. In early May 2023, Anderson told Staff Member A, that she would give the staff member extra pay in the form of a large bonus, but that Staff Member A would have to give a portion of the bonus back to the defendant. Staff Member A agreed to the arrangement. On May 3, 2023, Anderson sent an email to a City of Boston employee, instructing the employee to process a bonus payment of $13,000 to Staff Member A. Staff Member A's bonus was more than twice as large as the total amount of all bonus payments to the city councilor's other staff combined. On May 26, 2023, Staff Member A deposited the bonus check. Later, at Anderson's instructions, the staff member made three separate withdrawals of the money. On June 9, 2023, Anderson and Staff Member A exchanged texts to arrange a meeting at a bathroom at the Boston City Hall, where Staff Member A would hand approximately $7,000 in cash to the city councilor. According to the U.S. District Attorney's The defendant has agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds. According to the plea agreement, the prosecutor agreed not to charge her with four other counts of wire fraud. The U.S. Attorney recommended sentencing the defendant to 12 months and one day incarceration, 36 months of supervised release, a restitution of $13,000, and a mandatory special assessment of $200.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boston City Councilor pleads guilty to federal corruption charges
BOSTON (WWLP) – Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to wire fraud and theft connected to a federal funds program. Fernandes Anderson, 46, of Boston, was indicted in December 2024. She currently serves as City Councilor for Boston's District 7, including Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway, and a portion of the South End. She was first elected in November 2021 and was re-elected in 2023. Damage caused by suspected vandalism at South Hadley High School Charging documents stated that Fernandes Anderson hired two of her immediate family members as salaried employees on her staff in 2022, which city councilors are prohibited by law from doing. As a result, Fernandes Anderson was required to terminate their employment in August 2022. In May 2023, the Massachusetts Ethics Commission also notified Fernandes Anderson that it was seeking a civil penalty payment of $5,000 from her as a result of the violation. In November 2022, Fernandes Anderson emailed a City of Boston employee to notify them that she was hiring an employee. This employee was a relative of Fernandes Anderson, but she falsely reported that they were not related. The charging documents further stated that in early to mid-2023, Fernandes Anderson reportedly faced financial struggles, including the outstanding payment to the Ethics Commission. In May 2023, she told her employed relative that she would give them a large bonus if they gave a portion of it back to her. A $13,000 bonus check was processed for the employee without disclosing to other City of Boston employees the repayment arrangement. The check was deposited on May 26, 2023, and Fernandes Anderson instructed the employee to make three separate cash withdrawals over the following weeks. After the final withdrawal, Fernandes Anderson and her relative met in a bathroom at Boston City Hall on June 9, 2023, where she reportedly received $7,000 in cash from her relative. The signed plea agreement stated that Fernandes Anderson also used funds from her campaign account for her personal benefit, and for tax years 2021-2023, she used fraudulent federal income tax returns with the IRS. Fernandes Anderson omitted approximately $11,000 in income that she earned from a Massachusetts-based corporation from her tax return in 2021, willfully omitted campaign funds in 2022 and 2023, and willfully omitted the $7,000 kickback that she received from her relative from her 2023 tax return. On Monday, Fernandes Anderson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds. Her scheduling is sentenced for July 29. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
