LANCASTER, S.C. — On Tuesday, July 21 at noon, the Arras Foundation is hosting a Focus Group for Gen Z at 601 N. Main Street. For young adults aged 14-29, this focus group is designed to bridge the gap between your needs and community stakeholders’ existing resources.
Join us for a free lunch, engage in open discussions, and play interactive games highlighting what it means to be Gen Z.
On Tuesday, participants will share insights, experiences, and ideas, which the A-Team (Arras Foundation interns) will analyze and use to create a guide for community stakeholders to reference while developing new initiatives.
This exciting event aims to support youth development by directly impacting the resources available to local young people.
A student from our first focus group stated, “Gen Z gets called lazy… but we don’t feel supported in the basic skills necessary to thrive in the real world, even though we’re expected to know them.”
Young people — come voice your needs at this upcoming focus group. In six interviews with local employers and one student focus group, we have heard that employers feel disconnected to the upcoming generation, and the students feel disconnected to the employers. Our goal is to identify these gaps and recommend solutions based on your input.
The Gen Z Focus Group will take place from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 601 N. Main Street, Lancaster, SC.
For more information, visit www.arrasfoundation.org or email INFO@arrasfoundation.org.
The first Arras Foundation sponsored Gen Z Focus Group was held at USCL earlier this month.
USCL Upward Bound posted the following during the first Gen Z Focus Group meeting earlier this month: ‘During this afternoon‘s session of the Upward Bound Internship Academy, rising juniors and seniors from Andrew Jackson High School and Lancaster High School SC welcomed Amarie Gist and Erika Vancampenhoudt from the Arras Foundation to USC Lancaster for an engaging focus group discussion called “What’s Going on with Gen Z?”
‘Participants explored how young adults communicate, the challenges they face, generational differences, safety concerns, and their relationship with Lancaster County. The conversation also examined what Gen Z needs to be successful, how they are often misunderstood, and how communities can better engage and support young adults.
‘Erika, a recent graduate of the Opportunity Scholars Program of USC Lancaster, returned to campus to help facilitate today’s discussion — providing a meaningful example of the impact young leaders can have in their communities. We greatly appreciate the Arras Foundation for investing in the next generation and creating space for thoughtful dialogue with our participants.’
This article was first published in The Lancaster News.