About Us

Finding Inspiration in the stories of the past

Chicago Mahogany Foundation is dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of the rich history and culture of the city of Chicago. We aim to highlight Chicago’s people, architecture, and impact on the world. Our passion fuels our duty to deliver this history and educate current and future generations. We desire to plant a seed that will foster a sense of pride and community.

"The Chicago Way”.

LetsGetDillaABus-DuSableMuseum-20220331-VTJ8988_Original.jpg

Our Story

Our founder, Shermann "Dilla" Thomas, is a fascinating blend of modern historian, culture worker and public utility employee. His 60 second history videos on everything Chicago have been viewed over 8 million times, and he has amassed a following of 150K followers across all social media platforms. Dilla has been featured on all manner of Chicago media and has also appeared nationally on both The Today Show and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Dilla is a proud lifelong resident of Chicago's South side. Through the success of his TikTok channel, Dilla began to fully understand the true value of storytelling and together with his 4 fraternity brothers, they started Chicago Mahogany Foundation. The goal of Chicago Mahogany Foundation is to uplift the city of Chicago through the intersectionality's of

history and storytelling.