TED Community » Sara Tekula

Sign in to send Sara an email »

About Me

Sara Tekula is the producer of TEDxMaui. As co-founder of the Plant a Wish project, a public awareness and documentary film project produced at her company, Noni Films & Media, she and her husband use the tools of the media (and basic gardening tools) to inspire the restoration of native habitats around America, engaging communities and teaching individuals to take an active role in the health of their local environment. On Earth Day 2010, Sara and her husband launched the project, which will ultimately visit all 50 United States – uniting each community in an unparalleled tree planting effort. With a video camera in one hand, and a shovel in another, she's traveling the country planting trees and interviewing interesting people about their connection to the land they live on. On November 5, 2011, they achieved their goal of holding native tree planting events with communities in all 50 U.S. states. Their documentary is scheduled for a January 2013 release. It will be her Directorial debut as a filmmaker.

As VIce President of Noni Films & Media, she oversees all video, writing, graphic design, marketing and public relations efforts and works closely with a wide range of local businesses and community organizations on Maui and across the U.S. to raise awareness for their causes and build their businesses. She is a respected trainer and consultant in social media and web marketing, is a lecturer at UH Maui College's Business School, and is also a regular contributor/writer for the Maui Time Weekly.

Prior to working at Noni Films & Media full-time, Sara served the entire Maui County community as Director of Education at Akaku: Maui Community Television, Maui County’s only local television station and community media-focused nonprofit. Her team was responsible for reviving the organization’s education program, resulting in the successful media skills training of over 1,000 Maui residents. She also founded a Citizen Journalism program that continues to thrive and develop as new technologies make it easier than ever to document and share stories on the local level.

As a producer and filmmaker, Sara has documentary television series for national and global audiences under her belt, including Survivor for CBS, Behind the Music for Vh1 and various others for A&E, Vh1, and MTV. Also experienced as a production manager for music videos and commercials, Sara has worked with clients such as Renault-Samsung Motors, Chegg.com, Atlantic Records, and Sprint. She was also a member of director Dennis Dugan’s assistant directing team on the recent Adam Sandler movie Just Go with It filmed on Maui in Spring 2010.

Sara is a graduate of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is expecting her first child in October 2012.

Location:
United States, Makawao, HI
Current organization:
Noni Films & Media
Current role:
Vice President
Gender:
Female
Areas of expertise:
Filmmaking, Event Production, Journalism, community organizing
I am:
Brainstormer, Connector, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Environmentalist, Filmmaker, Idea generator, Journalist, Student, Writer/Editor
Languages:
English, French
My website links:
Sara's Blog, Plant a Wish Project, Noni Films & Media
Universities:
University of Southern California
Member Picture

TEDCRED 500+ TEDx Organizer

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Sharing Ideas, the Rights of Nature, Media education, Community education, Biodiversity, Documentary filmmaking, All Living Things

An idea worth spreading

Planting one tree - the right tree, in the right place - is the most revolutionary act one person can do.

Talk to me about

Maui, Filmmaking, Writing, Travel, Native Habitats, Social Media, Psychology, Learning, and Music.

People don't know that I'm good at

Singing, Navigation, Curing hiccups.

My TED Story

I've been a fan of TED Talks for years, but it wasn't until late last year when a Maui friend (TEDx License Holder Katie McMillan) was accepted to attend TED Women in Washington DC that I felt the power of TED first-hand.

After helping her raise funds to go on behalf of the many Maui residents cheering her on, I was honored to be invited to co-produce the very first TEDxMaui with her!

Our second event, TEDxMaui 2013: The Dream is Real, is now scheduled to be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on January 13, 2013.

Comments

  • TEDCred score: +4201.50 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

  • A reply on Talk: Geoffrey West: The surprising math of cities and corporations

    Aug 12 2012: John, do you honestly feel that the connection between access to trees and green space and our health is just a "coincidence"?
  • +7

    A comment on Talk: Lisa Kristine: Photos that bear witness to modern slavery

    Aug 12 2012: I have always maintained that watching TED Talks is like taking vitamins: they're all good for you, yet each one may serve a different purpose. Some are highly detailed with data and new technology, which feeds a certain part of my needs. Others are inspirational, setting me forth in my day with a new lease on life. Others entertaining. The few favorites on my list? Well, they've changed my DNA for good.

    To me, Lisa Kristine's talk - while it contains important data, and historic information about how slavery has evolved - is a heartfelt invitation into the worlds that Lisa has so bravely entered with her camera. She's gone places I would never go, and she brings back her stories and breathtaking photographs so I never have to. I cannot fathom what it must be like for her to be there as a witness, and being forced to wait until she returns home to process it, to show emotion. Her strength is incredible. For those who weren't working backstage on the TEDxMaui like I was, I think you'd like to know that while on that stage in front of over 700 people, Lisa had written on her hand the words: "Do it for them."

    To me, Lisa's talk - while delivering bad news and not much of a solution to this complicated problem - is a necessary pill for all of us to swallow. It serves as a catalyst.
  • +7

    A reply on Talk: Lisa Kristine: Photos that bear witness to modern slavery

    Aug 12 2012: Well, that's why this discussion forum is here for us. How do you feel we can rectify the issue of global, modern-day slavery? She does mention that Free the Slaves (https://www.freetheslaves.net) is doing work to help. She is also a photographer, a witness. She doesn't claim to have solutions, only her experiences to share. I feel this is quite a contribution to the TED conversation.
  • +1

    A reply on Talk: Lisa Kristine: Photos that bear witness to modern slavery

    Aug 12 2012: I feel blessed to have produced TEDxMaui with you, Katie, along with the dozens of others who poured their hearts into making Lisa's talk possible. She is an inspiration, and - in my opinion - delivered the stand-out presentation of the day.
  • +5

    A comment on Talk: Geoffrey West: The surprising math of cities and corporations

    Jul 26 2011: This reminds me of the "Vitamin G" study done in Amsterdam. Scientists proved that you could predict the physical health of a city by determining the number of trees/green spaces within a 3 mile radius. Love looking at things according to these complex systems...there is still simplicity and there are still patterns, it's in our nature!

Favorite talksSee all »