The Lost Cajuns of Eastern Tennessee - One Year After Hurricane Katrina

When Jen Johnson started a local Meetup for a small band of "Cajuns" who found themselves residing in Eastern Tennessee two years ago, the Louisiana native had no idea that the Lost Cajuns of East Tennessee Meetup would fast become the lifeblood for other Louisiana natives looking to rebuild their lives in Tennessee post- Katrina.

Over 250 "Lost Cajuns" in Eastern Tennessee have sought out -- and have found -- a new, thriving community of support for other Louisianians affected by Hurricane Katrina, right in their backyard.

The Lost Cajuns of East Tennessee Meetup is a perfect example how people can come together to rebuild, connect and make a positive difference in each other’s lives and their own communities. Gathering monthly, this Meetup has helped evacuees find clothes, jobs, displaced family members and even stray pets.

It's a "good ol’ Louisiana neighborhood" in Tennessee, says Jen.

One story she's particularly proud of is how it took only 7 minutes to find a full-sized bed for an evacuee-turned-resident after submitting a request to other Meetup members.

On Tuesday, August 29th, the Lost Cajuns will host a "family dinner" to reflect on the last year and celebrate life after the storm.

It's no wonder Jen's amazing group has caught the attention of her local newspaper, Blount Today:

According to [Marlene] Langley, the website maintained by group organizer Jennifer Johnson helped them know what the hurricane-affected individuals needed. "Our website is how we communicated," she said. Several members said the Lost Cajuns group was brought closer because of the hurricane, and it grew in number as more former Louisiana residents clamored to work with the group to support the hurricane survivors. According to Langley, the group was a lifesaver. "It brought me back to my roots," she said. George Schwebel of Louisville once lived in Amite, La., near Baton Rouge. He aggress the hurricane brought the Lost Cajuns group closer. "It sure did, for a lot of reasons. The bond was there like Super Glue," he said. Schwebel said the people of Louisiana are a special breed with good attitudes and outlooks on life. "Even with the peril they went through, they still have just a fantastic outlook," he said. Just like the Lost Cajuns group, Louisiana residents or former residents are a close-knit bunch. "You talk to this one, and you talk to that one, and you end up knowing someone they know," he said. Blount County residents Rick Wilson and his wife Phyllis Wilson came from Baton Rouge in 1990. "We all came together to help," he said. Link

We're hoping Jen can tell her story to a national audience, because it deserves to be told. (Hello, anyone out there?)

The Lost Cajuns of East Tennessee are a big reason we can't wait to come to work each morning.