HSA – OARS in the Water
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
7:00pm-8:30pm EDT
Hosted by Elisa Pearmain and Laconia Therrio
Theme: Being a Conduit
Join us as we explore how to become a more effective conduit for your passion, whether it’s in the realm of healing, spirituality, education, creativity, or anything else that matters to you. Stories can be powerful conduits to share meaningful ideas whether shared at the kitchen table, in the service of your work, or from the stage.
ABOUT THE MEETING
OARS in the Water is a facilitated Zoom gathering that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 pm Eastern Time. The Healing Story Alliance’s OARS in the Water offers a community listening space in which to share the experiences and stories that have emerged in turbulent times.
OARS co-hosts facilitate the evening and provide participants with a warm welcome and a meaningful theme which we hope will be healing, supportive and inspiring.
Format: A typical 90-minute meeting consists of a 20-minute, theme-based opening, followed by 20 minutes in breakout rooms, and then we reassemble for a whole group conversation.
Admission is free, although donations are deeply appreciated and help support our programming. Your tax-deductible donation can be made here:
ABOUT OUR HOSTS
Laconia Therrio is a native New Orleanian, a professional storyteller, and serves as a hospital chaplain. He also trains medical residents to relate more personally with their patients. He tells us that stories matter. They touch the heart, mind, and spirit of the listener. All the teller does is share the story, but the relationship between the teller and the listener is sacred. He is also a member of Ubuntu Storytellers.
Elisa Pearmain has been telling stories professionally since 1987, and always with a penchant for the many healing benefits of story. She is the award-winning author of 52 Wisdom Tales from Around the World, Once Upon a Time: Storytelling to Teach Character and Prevent Bullying, and the double CD Forgiveness: Telling Our Stories in New Ways. Elisa is also a Psychotherapist in private practice, is on the Advisory Board of the Healing Story Alliance and is chair of the HSA Programming Committee.