Open government has power. It fuels democracy. When citizens know what's going on, they can make informed choices about their community and their country.

"That sounds simple and noncontroversial," said Randy Brown, executive director of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government and senior fellow in the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State. "But it isn’t quite like apple pie and the flag. In concept, everybody says they love transparency. In practice, that love too often morphs into fear. And lawmakers vote for secrecy."

You can be a part of this vital public discussion at the public forum “The Power of Open Government: What Citizens Can Do” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at the First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway in downtown Wichita.

The forum will be telecast live on KAKE-TV, Channel 10. It's part of the national Sunshine Week celebration. Audience members, who are asked to be at the church by 2:30 p.m., will be able to ask questions.

"Open government is a truly non-partisan issue," says Brown. "It's not for the benefit of public officials or the media. It's for citizens. It's essential to a democratic society."

Brown will moderate the panel. Panelists include Sedgwick County Commissioner Tim Norton; Dale Goter, government affairs manager for the City of Wichita; Pat Dooley, media law professor; and Ron Sylvester, online reporter for The Wichita Eagle.

This public event is co-sponsored by the Sunshine Coalition, the Wichita League of Women Voters, the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University and the Kansas Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. It's free and refreshments will be served.