Keeping Austin's unique culture can be an issue of concern as more people continue to come to the city. How to keep Austin weird in the midst of that increase was the topic of discussion at the Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast on Nov. 6.

Kevin Johns, city of Austin's Economic Development Department director and panelist, said it is important to embrace the new cultures and people who move to Austin in order to keep Austin a cohesive city.

"If we're going to be a prototype of how cities of the future grow, then we have to have a harmony and a balance, and we have to have prosperity for everybody and we can't be displacing people," Johns said.

Other panelists included Retired KXAN-TV journalist Jim Swift and Jakes Srinivasan, founder of WobeonFest Austin World Music Festival. News Anchor Shannon Wolfson moderated the discussion.

Johns said Austin's diverse culture is one way the city can boost neighborhoods and the economy.

"We've done an analysis, and I think we've been able to document that if a commercial area has a bicycle shop on it, the tax values go up an extra 5 percent," Johns said. "If you add two galleries, it goes up another 5 percent. If you add an international cafe, it goes up and so on. So if we're able to use the cultural diversity that we have, we can have just an unlimited way to revitalize our city over and over again using culture and diversity."

One issue the panel identified as a barrier to a more inclusive Austin was stereotypes in the community. Swift said stereotypes don't just affect those in lower income brackets. Those with higher incomes also carry certain stigmas and stereotypes with them.

"The stereotyping goes both ways and when it does, it divides people into different camps," Swift said. "We wind up being forced into nesting with like-minded people and we don't get exposed to people that are different form us," Swift said.

Srinivasan said Austin residents are very good at working through stereotypes and embracing other cultures into the city's culture. He said Austin has many international and multicultural events, though sometimes they may be hard to find. For those that do not have a particular scene, Austin has an answer for that as well.

"The beauty of Austin, unlike New York or San Francisco, is that you don't have to be part of a scene," Srinivasan said. "You can make your own scene, and that was the beauty of Austin."

Swift said keeping Austin's culture and vibe is a two-way street and it takes work from everyone in the community to help Austin stay weird.

"That's the first thing people can do. Newcomers can be curious and go out and try to figure out what's going on and join in it," Swift said. "In the process, of course, you meet people and those people can guide you deeper into the community, and I think that's the number one thing."

Swift's advice for the community that has been in Austin is to encourage that curiosity.

Srinivasan said the easiest way to engage in Austin's culture is to "dust off your guitar, get some new strings and join a band."

"This is a fantastic place, and there are more bands than you realize," he said. "Don't expect to be paid a lot, but you can definitely have a fantastic time and feel like a rock star. I don't know any other place in the world that gives you that opportunity."

The next Engage Breakfast is scheduled on Dec. 18 and will include discussions on affordability in Austin. For more information, visit www.leadershipaustin.org/programs/engage.