“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 serve as a compass for those seeking 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: Leadership Rooted in Purpose, Equity, and Community
Brian Griffin’s career in labor leadership reflects a rare balance of lived experience, strategic discipline, and moral clarity. As Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, Griffin represents more than 100 affiliated unions and tens of thousands of working families across Greater Cincinnati. In that role, he serves not only as an advocate for workers but as a convener who brings labor’s voice to the center of regional decision-making.
Raised with limited resources and few external safety nets, Griffin understands firsthand the stakes of economic insecurity and opportunity. That experience shaped both his worldview and his leadership style. Practical, steady, and deeply values-driven, he has built a reputation as a leader who prioritizes outcomes over rhetoric and coalition over confrontation, while never losing sight of labor’s core mission.
With a background in journalism and public affairs, Griffin spent decades building bridges among organized labor, elected officials, faith leaders, community organizations, and business stakeholders. That skill set has proven essential in an era when workforce development, economic equity, and public investment increasingly intersect. Under his leadership, the Labor Council has strengthened its role as a trusted partner in shaping policies that affect working people across the region.
A defining focus of Griffin’s work has been workforce development as a pathway to dignity and economic mobility. He has helped advance transformative initiatives such as Building Futures, a nationally recognized pre-apprenticeship program developed in partnership with organizations including the Urban League and the NAACP. These efforts connect historically underserved communities to union careers that offer family-sustaining wages, benefits, and long-term stability. He is also helping guide the emerging BEACON Task Force, Building Equity through Access, Careers, Opportunity, and Networks, a cross-sector vision designed to dismantle systemic barriers to employment and advancement.
Griffin’s civic engagement extends beyond the Labor Council. He 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. In these roles, he is known as a thoughtful steward of public trust who brings labor’s perspective to governance, accountability, and public service.
At the core of Griffin’s advocacy is a belief that the labor movement is about far more than employment alone. For him, labor is inseparable from democracy, dignity, and the right of people to shape their own futures. A frequent speaker and writer, he is a respected voice in local and national conversations on labor, policy, and equity, consistently emphasizing that when labor leads with purpose and partners with community, the impact extends well beyond the workplace.
Brian Griffin attended Ohio University, earning a BFA in Theatre and Vocal Performance and a master’s degree in communication and marketing for the fine and performing arts. He lives in Fairfield, Ohio, with his wife, Susan. In a time of economic uncertainty and rapid change, Griffin’s leadership stands as a reminder that strong unions, grounded in values and collaboration, remain one of the most effective forces for building a just and inclusive society.
Why Eye Write 