Do Good Ambassadors
Low Country Ambassadors: Living the Mission, sharing the story, uniting the community.
At Low Country Grit, our Ambassadors are storytellers, changemakers, and the living embodiment of our mission. Each Ambassador represents a unique thread in the fabric of our community, using their voices, creativity, and connections to amplify its causes and creators alike.
Their impact is profound: from inspiring local pride to raising awareness for Causes, they help turn purpose into action. These individuals bridge the gap between culture and community, helping us build a more engaged, inspired, and connected Low Country.
Because of their critical role, we are committed to sharing their stories. Through their lens, we celebrate what it means to live with heart, give with intention, and uplift one another.
Shelley Smith
Advocate, Artist, Community Builder
Shelley Smith is a passionate advocate, entrepreneur, and creative force who has spent decades shaping Savannah’s cultural and community landscape. A longtime supporter of grassroots art, Shelley served as founder of the iconic Venus de Milo Bar, a beloved creative hub that opened on New Year’s Eve 1999. Today, she continues her mission by hosting pop-ups and promoting local artisans through projects like Renegade Paws Rescue and Red Clay, among others.
Deeply committed to children's welfare, Shelley volunteers with Savannah Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), completing rigorous certification to advocate for abused and neglected children. She also serves on the Board of Art Southeast, further amplifying Savannah’s vibrant arts scene, and is a proud supporter of Loop It Up Savannah’s youth programs.
Through every endeavor, Shelley brings heart, vision, and a fierce dedication to building a more connected, creative, and compassionate community.
Rene Heidt
Stewardship Storytelling and Saltwater
Rene Heidt is a master naturalist, ecotourism pioneer, and celebrated artist whose work captures the soul of the Georgia coast. As founder of @Sundial Charters, @Rene has spent over two decades guiding educational nature tours through Tybee Island’s salt marshes, connecting people to the land while protecting its fragile ecosystems. The youngest alumni of SCAD, Rene graduated at 20 with a Masters of Architecture.
Yet being a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Marine Extension Program allows Rene to combine environmental science with her visual storytelling to advocate for conservation and coastal heritage.
Her paintings—several of which hang in the Georgia State Capitol through the @Georgia Council for the Arts—reflect the biodiversity and cultural history of the Low Country. Rene and Sundial Charters have been featured in We Are Georgia, WTOC, and various national publications. Recently, she was asked to lead a tour & consult for an upcoming documentary on coastal ecosystems. An active contributor to local charities, Rene mentors young environmentalists and artists alike. Whether through brushstrokes or boat rides, Rene continues to inspire a more profound respect for the land, water, and history of the South.
Lawrence Bryan III
Building Community Through Legacy
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Lawrence Bryan III credits St. Benedict Academy as his foundation for his life’s dedication to lifting others through compassion, creativity, and community action. A former standout athlete at Savannah High School, Lawrence pursued his passion for storytelling at the Antonelli School of Photography, returning home to launch an exciting career. His photography and writing—featured in publications like the Savannah Morning News—amplify voices of resilience, education, and community healing.
After the tragic loss of his son, Lawrence founded the LB4 & After Foundation, now evolved into the LB3 Foundation, developing youth empowerment programs through life skills and mentorship like the LB3 Foundation Golf Camp at Savannah Golf Club or contributions to the Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club among others.
A WTOC Community Champion honoree, Lawrence has helped provide thousands of backpacks, bicycles, and personal care kits across the city. He also serves as a Board Member of the Savannah Children’s Choir, embodying a life of service, storytelling, and giving.
Daria Collins
Art, Activism, and Global Vision
Daria L. Collins is a passionate educator and visual artist who bridges communities as an Ambassador of Expression. At Tybee Island Maritime Academy, she uplifts voices, preserves culture, and highlights the power of visual storytelling. Shaped by global travels, Daria’s work reflects a deep understanding of art as a universal language.
Daria earned her BFA in fine arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her portfolio encompasses photojournalism, painting, graphic design, mosaics, and shark-tooth jewelry. Recent highlights include a collaborative student piece alongside professional artists at The Ships of the Sea Museum. Her personal work has also been exhibited at the Beech Institute and the Jepson Center.
Rooted in the Lowcountry, Daria draws deep inspiration from the rhythms of coastal life, in, on, and around the water. This coastal rhythm has become both a personal refuge and a creative wellspring, flowing into her art as seen in her use of natural materials and recent explorations with Gullah Geechee-inspired indigo dye techniques. Beyond the canvas, Daria is a dedicated advocate for youth empowerment. She mentors students and curates exhibitions in public spaces, helping young artists feel seen, valued, and impactful in our world.
Lesli Messinger
Compassion, Advocacy, and Action
Lesli Messinger is a passionate advocate, nonprofit founder, and community changemaker based in Savannah, Georgia. After losing her son, Austin Barthen, to an accidental OxyContin overdose in 2005, Lesli transformed her grief into a mission to save lives and reduce the stigma surrounding addiction.
She founded No More ODs, a nonprofit harm-reduction organization, which has trained thousands of first responders, equipped local departments with over 2,700 doses of Narcan in 2024 alone, and helped prevent nearly 300 overdose deaths in Chatham County and beyond. In 2012, Lesli ran for Congress in Georgia’s 1st District and her efforts were instrumental in passing Georgia’s 911 Medical Amnesty & Good Samaritan Law.
With a hands-on approach and heart for her community, she leads education, outreach, and Narcan access initiatives—including free public distribution boxes. She has established critical and lasting partnerships with the Savannah Behavioral Health Unit, Chatham County Planning Council, and Georgia Southern University campuses.
Lesli’s advocacy is deeply rooted in love and memory. Every life saved is a tribute to her son Austin, whose legacy continues to guide No More ODs’ life-saving mission.
‘Sistah Patt’
A SaltwataGeechee Gurl
Sistah Patt Gunn is a Gullah Geechee Master Storyteller, cultural preservationist, and activist based in Savannah, GA. Featured in Condé Nast Traveler, Garden & Gun, and other national outlets, she shares the rich history and traditions of her heritage through immersive experiences with her company, Underground Tours of Savannah. Her tours highlight Gullah Geechee culture and the city's ties to the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
She was instrumental in the renaming of Susie King Taylor Square the first Savannah square named for a woman and African American in 270 years. Known as the "Saltwata Geechee Gurl" and for making “good trouble,” Gunn founded the Center for Jubilee, Reconciliation, and Healing to preserve Gullah Geechee history, foster dialogue, and support historic sites like Wormsloe Plantation.