MADE Collaborative – It’s the Made Collaborative’s mission to give kids a voice through the magic of storytelling and creativity.

We develop original comics and creative content with the participation of after-school programs and youth. And we've created this virtual platform so that you can participate in this collaborative process by sharing your own creative ideas and input.

The Back of the Yards comic book series, a Made Collaborative production, was born in collaboration with participating urban youth on the West Side of Chicago. With this virtual creative studio platform, we will continue those collaborations with interested parties everywhere, building new comic content on the foundation of those original collaborations in the West Side of Chicago.

Behind the the comic scenes, Made Collaborative is an immersive virtual studio experience. Our Studio Cards facilitate collaboration with you by providing: (i) context for topics and concepts used to develop our comic (“Source Cards”), (ii) context for the comic characters that we develop collaboratively with you (“Character Cards”) and finally, (iii) comprehensive opportunities for you to collaborate on the comic (“Action Cards”). Just click the back of any card to begin your own creative journey.

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Source
Cards

Introducing
Back of the Yards!

Source Card #1: The Back of the Yards Comic Series!

What

With this Source Card #1 overview, we introduce you to our first Comic story series, Back of the Yards!, a story about young man in the West Side of Chicago that has what he believes to be a supernatural encounter and his subsequent journey to understand what is real and what isn't within his neighborhood - the Back of the Yards!

When

We will examine past, present and future states of these neighborhoods in attempt to gain a better understanding of how these neighborhoods originally developed and evolved through the years.developed in collaboration with participating youth from the West Side of Chicago.

Who

As part of this collaborative series, we will also examine the residents of these neighborhoods, including early immigrants to present day inhabitants, and their corresponding influence and impact to our urban communities.

Why

In order to more fully understand some of the complexities of our urban centers, we must understand their neighborhoods, including the evolution of those neighborhoods and their residents. And, of course, we plan to incorporate some of these related themes into our ongoing comic series, Back of the Yards, with your collaborations.

Character
Cards

Who is…
Tamia Parker?

Character Card #2 – Tamia Parker

Summary Traits

Tamia is a young African American high school youth who learns more about herself as she experiences the pain of betrayal and lost love.

Core Personality Traits & Values

Tamia is extremely bright, curious, introspective and creative. She is an artist at heart, with empathy that forms connections with others in ways that she even doesn’t fully understand yet…

Archetype

The Creator

Motto

“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” - Leonard Cohen

Collaboration Background

Tamia’s character was initially developed during the original Made Collaborative in-person classroom collaborations with youth in the fall and winter of 2013, as part of an after school program in the West-Side of Chicago.

Debut

Issue #1 of the Back of the Yards comic series

Action
Cards

And Action!
Create an Illustration!

Action Card #4: Create an Illustration!

Collaboration Summary

With this collaboration series, we will work with aspiring illustrators that may be interested in developing new illustrations that could ultimately be incorporated into our Back of the Yards comic series!

Collaboration Background

When we began this project, it was based on a simple premise that all of us have the ability to be creative. However, we also recognize that this creativity can come in many different forms and with that, some of you may actually be talented illustrators. So it is that with this Action Card collaboration series, we will present you with opportunities to submit your illustrations by providing you with possible comic scenes, newly developed characters and/or other comic settings to choose from, all updated regularly!

This & That

Action Card cover illustrated by Andrew Dimmett. Content developed by Jimmy Briseno, Len Kody and … you? Learn more on how by linking to the QR Code above.