Story of

Treeman

Flowing through the public as his surreal 10-foot tree persona, Lionel Powell, the Treeman, has a unique ability to make empathetic connections with complete strangers. He finds peace through Treeman’s interactions with the public and volunteer appearances at events for social change. Living homeless on the streets of Venice Beach, Lionel brings a unique face to social activism in America. While working to bring joy and awareness to others, he realizes that his own life is fractured and attempts to break a 20-year cycle of homelessness as he reconciles his past.

Story of

Treeman

Flowing through the public as his surreal 10-foot tree persona, Lionel Powell, the Treeman, has a unique ability to make empathetic connections with complete strangers. He finds peace through Treeman’s interactions with the public and volunteer appearances at events for social change. Living homeless on the streets of Venice Beach, Lionel brings a unique face to social activism in America. While working to bring joy and awareness to others, he realizes that his own life is fractured and attempts to break a 20-year cycle of homelessness as he reconciles his past.

A boy surrounded by violence finds refuge in the unconditional love of animals and insects.

A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN

Lionel Powell, the Treeman, grew up just doors down from Jay-Z in the infamous Marcy Projects in Brooklyn. As a boy surrounded by gangs, drugs and violence, he found refuge in the unconditional love of animals and insects.

As a man, he searched for happiness through religion, family and the circus arts, living in Florida with his wife and three children while working as a stilt performer at Disney World.

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A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN

Lionel Powell, the Treeman, grew up just doors down from Jay-Z in the infamous Marcy Projects in Brooklyn. As a boy surrounded by gangs, drugs and violence, he found refuge in the unconditional love of animals and insects.

As a man, he searched for happiness through religion, family and the circus arts, living in Florida with his wife and three children while working as a stilt performer at Disney World.

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Estranged from his loved ones living homeless and penniless on the streets of Venice Beach.

ESTRANGED, HOMELESS & PENNILESS

When Lionel’s devotion to his religion and his passion for performance clash, he ends up estranged from his loved ones living homeless and penniless on the streets of Venice Beach, California.

ESTRANGED, HOMELESS & PENNILESS

When Lionel’s devotion to his religion and his passion for performance clash, he ends up estranged from his loved ones living homeless and penniless on the streets of Venice Beach, California.

Treeman is a staple along the Venice Beach Boardwalk, a longtime haven for freedom of expression.

VENICE IS HOME

Escaping with childlike abandon into the creation of original stilt characters, his Treeman persona becomes a beloved public figure in Venice. Treeman becomes an integral part of the creative fabric and history of Venice Beach, a longtime haven for freedom of expression.

VENICE IS HOME

Escaping with childlike abandon into the creation of original stilt characters, his Treeman persona becomes a beloved public figure in Venice. Treeman becomes an integral part of the creative fabric and history of Venice Beach, a longtime haven for freedom of expression.

Spreading his message of unity and reminding us of our symbiotic relationship to nature and each other.

THE GIVING TREE

Lionel’s life becomes a social experiment gifting Treeman’s time to the public and at events for social change, in turn surviving thanks to the kindness of others who feed and sometimes offer him shelter.

COMMUNITREE EVENTS

Green Venice Expo with Ed Begley Jr.
New Life Society Feeding the Homeless
Santa Monica College Sustainability Week
Santa Monica Festival Arts & Sustainability
Heal The Bay Beach Clean Up
LA Kingdom Day Parade with Tommy the Clown
Venice Arts Free Art Education for Low Income Families

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THE GIVING TREE

Lionel’s life becomes a social experiment gifting Treeman’s time to the public and at events for social change, in turn surviving thanks to the kindness of others who feed and sometimes offer him shelter.

COMMUNITREE EVENTS

Green Venice Expo with Ed Begley Jr.
New Life Society Feeding the Homeless
Santa Monica College Sustainability Week
Santa Monica Festival Arts & Sustainability
Heal The Bay Beach Clean Up
LA Kingdom Day Parade with Tommy the Clown
Venice Arts Free Art Education for Low Income Families

Get Involved

“We are all reflections of nature” – Treeman

FLOW STATE

Stilt-walking Treeman is in a complete “state of flow” as he spreads his message of unity and the need to reconnect our bodies and minds to nature, and to each other.

FLOW STATE

Stilt-walking Treeman is in a complete “state of flow” as he spreads his message of unity and the need to reconnect our bodies and minds to nature, and to each other.

TREEMAN’S SURVIVAL

As Treeman’s popularity begins to grow, he makes appearances at schools around the nation, performs in commercials, reality tv, episodic comedy and more. But when big tech money and gentrification comes to Venice, Lionel is still living hand to mouth and barely able to survive.

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS

Realizing to help others he must first help himself, Lionel enrolls in a variety of Los Angeles Homeless Bridge programs to obtain services, employment and housing. As he attempts to break a 20-year cycle of homelessness, reunite with family and reconcile his past, his new mission is to lead the way so that others can find the bridge out of homelessness.

Living hand to mouth

TREEMAN’S SURVIVAL

As Treeman’s popularity begins to grow, he makes appearances at schools around the nation, performs in commercials, reality tv, episodic comedy and more. But when big tech money and gentrification comes to Venice, Lionel is still living hand to mouth and barely able to survive.

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS

Realizing to help others he must first help himself, Lionel enrolls in a variety of Los Angeles Homeless Bridge programs to obtain services, employment and housing. As he attempts to break a 20-year cycle of homelessness, reunite with family and reconcile his past, his new mission is to lead the way so that others can find the bridge out of homelessness.

Lionel’s dream is to lead the way so other citizens experiencing homelessness
can benefit from his story.