Lacy Holt
2025 TSNA Board Candidate
(Partner to TSNA Board Candidate Tom Worley)
Tell us a little about yourself.
Please provide a brief background or bio, including any relevant experiences or interests.
I'm originally from Leesburg, Georgia, but I moved to Savannah in 2011. I worked in the service industry as a bartender in the tourist area for several years before moving on to things I'm more passionate about, including working at a commercial scale wholesale plant nursery (Oleschigs) and then working for Port City Sewing Factory making leather goods for the local store Satchel. Now as a small business owner myself, I still do leatherwork and other crafts as well as organize, plan, and set up community events.
I've briefly volunteered with animal shelters, my local zoo back home, and animal rehabilitators, as well as fostered and found happy homes for strays. My other passions include traveling abroad, reading, archery, and creating interesting atmospheres for others.
How long have you lived in the Thomas Square neighborhood?
Please provide some details about your story in respect to how you came to live in our community.
I moved to Thomas Square neighborhood in 2019, after previously having lived in some bad neighborhoods in Savannah, since 2011. In these last five years, the improvement to my environment has had a snowball effect on my life overall so I want to further contribute to that and help others feel more included and involved in this community as well.
What do you do professionally?
Please share a bit about your profession and how it impacts you and your relationship with the community.
I'm a small business starting up as an artist and leather worker. Previously working as a bartender on River St and Congress St, I'm happy to be in a quieter area, away from the major tourist spot and the hotels and parking woes of downtown. As an artist I enjoy having my quiet time to work, balanced by the social bustle of events in Thomas Square where I can host events and participate in the local makers markets. I feel that maintaining the balance of those worlds is tantamount to preserving what I love about our area.
Why are you interested in serving on the TSNA Board of Directors?
Explain what drew you to make this decision to volunteer to serve your community on the TSNA board.
I think it's important to increase safety, cleaning efforts, and engagement for our residents, as well as preserve our neighborhood and protect it from the city's over reach.I also enjoy volunteering and helping others in any capacity and I think this will be a good place I can make an impact.
What do you see as the top challenges for our neighborhood, and how do you think the board should address them?
Some examples we see as top issues facing our neighborhood in the coming years are the potential expansion of Savannah’s To-Go Cup district, hotel development, the ongoing affordable housing crisis, rising property taxes due to property value inflation, and increasing crime & homelessness challenges.
I agree with these issues being the top challenges, and I think addressing them should always involve speaking with neighbors on an individual basis about their concerns and needs as well as their experiences concerning crime and general safety regularly throughout the year. I think with organized engagement with our neighbors and city officials, diplomatically coming to a unified stance on what we want will help us have a stronger voice for our neighborhood.
I also think more neighbors being engaged and out and about will reduce crime and deflect issues from the homeless population naturally, but there are other challenges in our proximity to the homeless shelter that need to be addressed.
In addition I would like to see issues of general safety involving putting in more crosswalks and increasing visibility for drivers in the area addressed.
What steps would you take to bring the community together, inspire engagement, bolster membership & attendance at meetings, and give residents a stronger voice?
Community involvement has always been a cornerstone of the Thomas Square neighborhood, but there is much room to inspire more participation and engagement moving forward.
I believe knowing your neighbors is the best place to start. Spending time out on walks and getting to know my neighbors and how they feel about issues and also letting them know their opinions are important makes them feel more involved at the base level to garner more interest in coming to a community meeting. I also think planning and organizing the community meetings to be fun and enjoyable, maintaining decorum and respect for people and speaking with diplomacy that is welcoming and understanding.
Aside from that, I think I have a good social network I can have a broad outreach through and people willing to help me meet the needs of the community.
What skills, connections, resources, or expertise do you bring to the table that will help TSNA navigate these rapidly changing times and serve the neighborhood effectively?
I'm already an active member of this community planning, organizing and setting up events and I create and host a variety of events to draw a wide range of people with diverse interests. I also have a great group of friends including local business owners with venues for event hosting, social media advertisers and data analysts.
Contact
If you would like to reach out to the candidate directly with any follow up questions they can be reached via email.
Reminder
Only current paid members of the TSNA can vote in the 2025 Board of Directors election. Please join now to secure your opportunity to make your voice heard in this election.
