Lafayette, LA: How I Got Connected to My Community 

LCVC, LEDA, One Acadiana.

It’s not a secret that moving to a new city can be a challenge. You’re faced with making new friends, finding your way around, navigating a new job or lifestyle and so much more. Thankfully, relocating to Lafayette, LA, means you’ll find friendly neighborhoods, fun entertainment, several outdoor activities and a variety of ways to get connected.

Eli Ramirez moved to the area in 2009 from LaCoste, TX, to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette). After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance, he relocated to Houston with his now wife, Lily. While they stayed in Houston for several years, the couple, who now have two children, decided to return to Lafayette in 2022. Ramirez currently works as a financial adviser for Cornerstone Financial Group. Read on to learn more about his move and how he and his family got connected in Lafayette, LA.

How did you make friends in Lafayette as a student and again as an adult?

When I came to Lafayette as a student, I only knew one person at UL who was one of my best friends. He told me why I should leave Texas and come to Lafayette, LA, and he connected me with a few people. Those people introduced me to more people, and my network expanded.

There’s a campus culture, so you meet people through your classes. My attitude was that I was there to get an education and go back to Texas. Moving back, I only had a few connections, but they were very strong connections with people who are very ingrained in the community. When I came back, they invited me to their meetups or to be involved in a group, so my path was guided by people who knew the layout of Lafayette.

What kind of organizations did you join to get connected in Lafayette, LA?

We’ve been here for almost three years, and while I want to make genuine friends for my wife and kids, as a financial adviser, I want to make professional connections, and those could come from anywhere.

I got involved in organizations that have a professional feel and organizations that I wanted to get involved in with my wife so we can do things as a family.

From a professional standpoint, I’m involved with Downtown Lafayette Unlimited – that spoke to me because I worked in downtown Houston for many years, and I just love a downtown, no matter what city I’m in. It’s where I find the most vibrancy, the most things to do, the best restaurants, the best meetup spots. Getting involved with them meant I was back in a downtown scene that I could help grow.

Looking forward, are there other organizations you’re interested in joining?

One of the big things I did when we came back was get into the Leadership Lafayette Class. The Leadership Institute of Acadiana was another organization that started out as a professional endeavor, but once I got into the class and started learning more about the area, it became more personal, a place where I could meet like-minded people who become friends. It’s full of young professionals who want to help the community.

I can’t speak highly enough about the Leadership Institute in getting an understanding of how the city and region operate. It helped me plan out what I wanted to do from a personal and professional standpoint.

What are some of your favorite local events?

We go to shows at the Acadiana Center for the Arts and Heymann Performing Arts Center, which have been great. It’s a taste of what we had in Houston from an arts perspective. We just went to see the Jersey Boys musical.

Mardi Gras is very family friendly in Lafayette. The Festival International de Louisiane is a favorite of ours, and on the weekends, we go to Moncus Park with the kids and to the farmers market. Our 4-year-old is just starting to play sports, so we’re involved in soccer and baseball. There are so many different things to do, and it’s really just the experience of the culture here.

What advice do you have for those looking to get connected after moving to Lafayette, LA?

Part of coming back here is that we wanted to raise our kids in a place like Lafayette. The community is very welcoming.

In Houston, you have to drive 30 minutes in traffic to go anywhere. Here, you ride your bike. If you’re looking for family-oriented activities, you’ll find them here. Lafayette is friendly enough where you can walk up to people and just say hello and start a conversation. That’s made it easy to make personal and professional connections.

This article is sponsored by the Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission, Lafayette Economic Development Authority and One Acadiana.