“Father, Husband, Son, Listener, Lover, Learner, Mentor, Storyteller, Singer, Seeker, Believer… Me.”
Preface
“Stories set the inner life into motion, which is particularly important where the inner life is frightened, wedged, or cornered. Story greases the hoists and pulleys, it causes adrenaline to surge, shows us the way out, down, or up, and for our trouble, cuts for us fine wide doors in previously blank walls, openings that lead to the dreamland that lead to love and learning, that lead us back to our own real lives . . . ” Jungian analyst and story-teller Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Throughout human history, stories have been the most enduring and essential form of communication. They do far more than entertain. They help us make sense of chaos, give voice to our longings, and bring meaning to our experiences. Whether we are young or old, ancient or contemporary, we all need stories to believe in. They shape how we understand and see ourselves in the world.
As a lifelong admirer of Joseph Campbell, I believe that stories—especially myths—are not merely fictional or symbolic. They are, in fact, among the most sacred truths we have. They reflect the soul of humanity and provide a compass for those searching for purpose, belonging, and clarity.
What I Believe
Today, the fine art of communication is under assault. With each passing day, we rely more heavily on tweets, posts, comment threads, and abbreviated messages that too often reduce complex thoughts to short bursts of reaction. These limited tools of exchange shrink the richness of language into fragments that are easy to scroll past but hard to build meaning from.
At the same time, the elegance and precision of language—the kind that carries tone, color, texture, and intent—have been steadily pushed aside. Nuance is often lost. Sincerity gives way to sarcasm. Meaning is misread. We find ourselves speaking past one another instead of to each other.
This crisis in expression has reached a point of urgency. Far too much of our communication has been hijacked by bluntness and speed, favoring efficiency over understanding. What we need now is a deliberate return to the art of thoughtful, meaningful writing.
That is why Why Eye Write exists. This forum is a personal commitment to the revival of language and the full potential of the written word. Here, I affirm the power of writing to express, inform, inspire, and restore connection. Writing still has the capacity to move people and to move the world. It can cut wide doors in blank walls. It can light the way forward.
If that vision resonates with you, I invite you to join me.
Brian
Who is this guy?
Brian Griffin is a seasoned labor leader, community advocate, and strategic policy advisor deeply committed to economic equity, workers’ rights, and democratic values. As Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council, he represents over 100 affiliated unions and tens of thousands of working families across Greater Cincinnati, bringing voice and vision to the region’s labor movement.
With a journalism and public affairs background, Brian spent decades building bridges between organized labor, elected officials, faith leaders, community organizations, and business stakeholders. His leadership has helped shape transformative workforce development initiatives like Building Futures, a nationally recognized pre-apprenticeship program developed in partnership with the Urban League and NAACP, and the emerging BEACON Task Force—Building Equity through Access, Careers, Opportunity, and Networks—a bold, cross-sector vision to dismantle systemic barriers to employment and opportunity.
Brian serves on the Boards of Directors for the Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Boards and is a longtime Commissioner with the Cincinnati Civil Service Commission, where he currently serves as Vice Chair. His advocacy is rooted in the belief that the labor movement is not just about employment—it’s about democracy, dignity, and the right of all people to shape their future.
A respected voice in local and national conversations on labor, policy, and equity, Brian is also a frequent speaker, writer, and contributor to labor publications and policy forums. His message is clear: when labor leads with purpose and partners with community, we don’t just build careers—we build a just and inclusive society.
Brian attended Ohio University, receiving his BFA in Theatre and Vocal Performance in 1982 and his master’s in communication and marketing for the fine and performing arts from the Graduate Studies Honors College in 1985. He lives in Fairfield, Ohio, with his wife, Susan.
Why Eye Write 