Hampton Roads’ new Gen Z commission is eager to bring collaborative change to region
The next generation entering the workforce in Hampton Roads seeks a regional voice.
“Hampton Roads needs Gen Z, and Gen Z needs Hampton Roads,” said Isaiah Smith, co-chair of the newly formed Hampton Roads Gen Z Commission. “As a generation, we’re kind of shaking things up.”
Its mission is to hear and address the most pressing challenges for the regional Generation Z community. Gen Z, also known as zoomers, refers to those born between 1997 and 2012 or ages 12 to 27.
“Every generation is different,” Smith said. “They have unique abilities, talents and even unique quirks as well.”
Stressing that Gen Zers are highly connected, Smith said his generation has more access to information than ever before in humanity’s history. He also said they possess a heightened awareness of mental health and workplace transparency.
“We can have a real impact as individuals, but we can have a real big impact if we’re all walking and rowing in the same direction,” Smith said.
While a lot of people in the area are trying to solve problems, Gen Z Commission co-chair Charlie O’Brien said their goal is to be the force that brings them together. He said he found the commission in his search for fellow changemakers. A Bronx, New York, native who graduated from McGill University in Montreal, O’Brien relocated to Hampton Roads to become operations manager at 757 Collab.
“It’s very disappointing to me, personally, to hear that my generation has a stigma of being lazy, not hardworking, not going after what they want,” O’Brien said. “I’m surrounded by people who are exactly the opposite of that.”
Some of the problems the commission members want to address include: entrepreneurial resources; education and training on financial literacy, civic participation and representation; transportation; career opportunities; and regionalism.
The idea for the commission originated when James Doe, associate director of Innovate Hampton Roads, posted a shoutout recently to Gen Zers on LinkedIn. Doe’s request to convene members of his generation was quickly met with an overwhelming response. He mobilized a group and brought in others from outside the Gen Z community to act as advisers, including Wally Schmader, founder of The Leader Lab, and Kip Poole, founder and executive director of The Crop Foundation.
“These kids are off to the races,” Doe said.
While the commission welcomes others outside of Generation Z to provide advice, perspective and connections, Smith said the commission’s 13 board members will consist solely of Gen Zers.
“We rely on the wisdom of generations that come before us,” he said. “We are still young and have varied experiences in different levels of leadership.”
A Chesapeake native, Smith now lives in Virginia Beach. While he was a student at Indian River High School, he started working as an independent contractor, building websites and apps for clients. After two years studying biblical and theological studies at Regent University, Smith decided student loans were not for him.
“I feel like a lot of our generation is actually doing that,” he said. “We’ve seen the impact that debt has had on the lives of our parents, millennials and such.”
On Halloween last year, Smith started his own business, Build for Demand, a software development company that he said focuses on building products people want to buy by leveraging market demands.
“If we can improve conditions for Gen Z, I believe it’s going to improve conditions for everyone else,” Smith said. “I think it’s also going to inspire the generation after us and create a better future for them, too.”
Interested in getting involved or having your voice heard? Send an email to sayhey@hrgenz.org.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com
