Rise from What Tried to Break You
Your story isn’t over — it’s just beginning. Let’s embrace it together.
A Voice for Healing and Hope
Mission
I’m Zachary “Zeke” Blackowl — a proud Cheyenne and Mvskoke Creek man, speaker, and advocate using my story to remind others that vulnerability is strength and healing begins with honesty.
I believe that healing starts when we have the courage to be real — with ourselves and with each other.
For a long time, I carried pain, grief, and silence after losing my mom, Clara Bushyhead. Reaching out for help changed my life. It showed me that strength doesn’t come from holding everything in — it comes from letting people in.
Today, I use my voice to spark conversations around mental health, identity, and resilience. My mission is to help others find light through their own darkness, one story at a time.
Zachary Blackowl bravely shared his story with the It’s Going to Be OK podcast about dialing the 988 Mental Health Hotline during a period of grief in his life. The Biden-Harris Administration has invested nearly $1.5 billion into the 988 hotline to address the mental health crisis.
Gabi Garcia-Biden Harris Administration
I got to work with Zach and I am so impressed by his vulnerability and strength. Talk. Saves. Lives. If you or a loved one are struggling, please call or text 988 for immediate mental health help.
Bonnie Campo - State of Oklahoma
One of the most meaningful moments of my time as Director of 988 Offices at SAMHSA was meeting Zachary Blackowl and hearing him share his lived experience captured the true ‘why’ behind 988. His courage and transparency reflect why this work matters and why 988 is so transformative.
Monica Johnson, MA,LPC - SAMHSA
