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.

The Back of the Yards comic book series, a Made Collaborative production, is a project that was born in collaboration with participating urban youth in the West Side of Chicago. It is a Creative Commons project (meaning everyone can access and share it here digitally for free, as well use the characters for their own projects) and with this virtual creative studio platform, we will continue those collaborations with interested parties here virtually.

Our virtual Studio Cards are designed to facilitate collaboration with you by providing you context on topics, concepts, characters and the people behind our comic project, along with related opportunities for you to provide your own collaborative input to us (i.e., your “Studio Notes”). And beyond our own comic project, you can collaborate on other independent projects in that same way through this virtual Studio Card framework. And it all starts with a click on the back of any card!

or

Pick a Card … any Card!

Who is…
Dex?

Dexter Colemen

Summary

Dexter Coleman is a comic character developed as part of the Back of the Yards comic series, a Creative Commons project produced by the Made Collaborative Studio. "Dex" is one of the last of a previous generation of neighborhood troublemakers who are alive and not in prison. He’s gone (mostly) straight in his older years, trying his best to make amends for the bad deeds of his youth.

Core Personality Traits & Values

Dex is a wisecracker, a sharp dresser and a straight talker. Even though his moral compass has evolved over the years into that of a respectable citizen of Back of the Yards, he’s still known to indulge in a few vices.

Primary Archetype

The Rebel

Motto

“I ain’t got time for dreamin’. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

Collaboration Background

Dex was developed by Jimmy Briseno and Len Kody as part of the initial Issue 1 scripting process.

Debut

Issue #1 of the Back of the Yards comic series

Who is…
Peaches?

Peaches

Summary

Peaches is a comic character developed as part of the Back of the Yards comic series, a Creative Commons project produced by the Made Collaborative Studio. For now, known only by his nickname, “Peaches,” he is one of the neighborhood’s “Elders” who observe and comment upon the activities of the younger folks. Peaches backstory is rich, deep and yet-to-be revealed!

Core Personality Traits & Values

Peaches is the dignified moral compass the Elders. Even though he is very much a realist, Peaches tends to see the best in people and he encourages them toward a righteous path.

Primary Archetype

The Mentor

Motto

“Though our destiny is now our own, our search for that destiny has only just begun.”

Collaboration Background

Peaches was developed by Jimmy Briseno and Len Kody as part of the initial Issue 1 scripting process.

Debut

Issue #1 of the Back of the Yards comic series

A Map of The
Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey – A Foundation for Story Telling

Summary

This Studio Card production was developed by the Made Collaborative Studio as part of its comic series the Back of the Yards. With this Studio Card, we present you with a summary of the Hero's Journey, which is a framework that helped many to develop their own creative projects through the centuries and with that, it is our hope this summary may help participating youth with their own creative projects.

When

The Made Collaborative Studio began as a modest grass roots project started by a ragtag group of participating artists in Chicago and was designed to provide a unique collaborative opportunity for after school programs and participating youth from our urban communities.

Who

This Made Collaborative Studio project technically started over 10 years ago as only a kernel of an idea in the mind of the project’s founder on one of his many bus rides home and through much trial and error over the years, evolved into the Made Collaborative Studio virtual model that exists today.

Why

The Made Collaborative Studio was created to help promote creative thought and provide a unique (and free) collaborative experience for afterschool programs and participating youth alike.

And we will regularly highlight collaborative submissions made by you on this virtual platform here within this "This & That" project blog, as well as announce any new creative projects and corresponding Studio Cards when added to this platform!