On Monday, November 21, 2016, FaithActs for Education, is hosting a community forum with the Bridgeport Board of Education. The event will take place at Cathedral of Praise, 45 Gregory Street, Bridgeport, CT, at 6:00 PM.

“Bridgeport deserves better from its elected Board of Education,” reads the organization’s press release, likely in reference to the recent dysfunction that’s plagued the school board.

The Bridgeport Board of Education has not met for a regular meeting in nearly two months, with four board members, including Chairman Dennis Bradley, refusing to convene meetings until fellow board member Maria Pereira resigns.  An unlikely prospect.

As of yet, all business is being conducted through sporadic special meetings. This means that any business other than the most pressing is being left to the wayside. Not that the board wasn’t already dysfunctional prior to the boycott — as seen here:

In September, Faith Acts, a grassroots faith-based education advocacy organization that began in 2014, helped organize a parent-led demonstration at Geraldine Johnson school, in response to the board’s boycott. During their demonstration, they demanded school board members publicly met with their membership.

According to a press release sent out by FaithActs, Board members Dennis Bradley, Howard Gardner, Joe Larcheveque, Annette Segarra-Negron and Ben Walker have all confirmed their attendance at the forum.

Two other members, Sauda Baraka and Rafael Fonseca are not available to attend — though, one member, in particular, has completely refused.

According to the blog Only In Bridgeport, FaithActs Executive Director Jamilah Prince-Stewart says that Pereira has refused any contact with the organization, threatening legal action:

We would love for every member of the Bridgeport Board of Education to take part in this important public event, and all board members who attend will be able to participate. We have not contacted Ms. Pereira out of respect for her wishes, and in order to protect our members’ safety and well-being. Ms. Pereira has stated that “Any individual employed or associated with FaithActs for Education is not to email, text, call, etc. me. Any further attempts to do so will place me in a position where I will be forced to file a formal complaint with the BPD.” Ms. Pereira is welcome to attend.

The event is open to the public, who are invited to submit questions to [email protected], by 1:00 PM on Monday.