Tonya Russo Hamilton is a teacher and author in the greater Portland area. She believes all stories deserve to be told with creativity and passion, and believes in the power of stories to make a difference in the world. Her first published work, ‘Wrestling with the Devil; A Story of Sacrifice, Survival, & Triumph, from the Hills of Naples to the Hall of Fame,’ is an inspirational memoir inspired by her father's journey from a small town in southern Italy to Brooklyn, New York and eventually Portland, Oregon. Tonya spent three years interviewing him about his life in Italy, his journey to the U.S., his coming of age in America, and his success in the sport of wrestling both as a participant and a coach. 

Her beautifully illustrated children's book, titled, ‘Tino and the Pomodori’ is about a young boy who plants and harvests tomatoes with his grandfather every year in a small town just outside of Naples, Italy. This story celebrates the wonders and beauty of Italian culture and the extraordinary bonds of family. Tonya enjoys traveling, volunteering in her local community, and is also on the Board of Directors at Italian Portland, a 501c3 charitable nonprofit organization she founded that provides Italian cultural programming, events, and opportunities in the greater Portland area.