Inside a Guatemalan gang prison, Jeremiah Griswold found his calling.

It wasn’t long after he graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in literature (and a massive love for the book Moby Dick) that Griswold was looking for a way to give back. With a fresh interest in tattooing and a few connections, he found himself in Guatemala working to help those who wanted to start a new life, marred by the symbol of a previous one. In this world, the wrong tattoo could get you killed.

And according to him, that’s when White Whale Tattoo began.

Fast forward to 2018: Jeremiah and his wife Becki co-own one of the most popular tattoo shops in Cincinnati and that original mission lives on. The two hold fundraisers for annual trips back to Central America, this time with a bigger team.

We stopped by the shop to hear his incredible story and learn about the intense, powerful and rewarding process of helping former gang members start a new life.

To him, service isn’t a one-way street. It’s a dichotomy. What they give, they get back tenfold with stories, experiences and a deeper understanding of life and human relationships.

And it all exists in the ink.

Learn more about White Whale Tattoo here. 

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