Jonathan D. Raben
(Producer / Director)

Born in New York City (1950), Jon received a BA from Temple
University in 1974 and attended Graduate School for Geology
at Boston University.

Having a parallel interest in gemology, Jon received his Graduate
Gemologist (GG) degree in 1996 from the Gemological Institute of America.

With several published works on Rhode Island and Massachusetts geology,
Jon taught senior level geology courses involving the mineralogy
of gemstones at the University of Rhode Island.

As a percussionist and songwriter, Jon has performed with
a number of musicians over the years.

His interests in music, film and cultural diversity inspired this project
documenting the evolution of Italian American culture in
Rhode Island's "Little Italy," Federal Hill.

Initiated in 2001, this documentary required extensive research,
interviews and on location filming.

His goal to capture the Italian American experience resulted in
his first feature film, "Italian Americans and Federal Hill."

< BACK <