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Who is ...

Russell Patterson?

Summary Traits	Russell is a very shy and creative young man. He is a grade or two younger than the rest of our young principal characters.
Core Personality Traits & Values	Russell Patterson has an extremely vivid imagination and a very active dream life. He just may be the most talented and creative student at New City High, but he lacks confidence so he too often daydreams as a means of escape.
Archetype	The Dreamer
Motto	“It is okay to live a life that others don't understand”
Collaboration Background	Russell’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

Let's Collaborate

There’s a magical time in a young person’s life, before the opposite sex becomes quite so interesting, when the diaphanous membrane between dreams and reality is at its most permeable. It’s a time when dreams can be shared easily between those with whom we’ve forged a special, life-long bond.

Russel and Draymond are cousins—but more like brothers, really—and they share a common dream iconography made up of interwoven archetypes and meta-narratives. Together, they intermittently inhabit a whole universe of stories that are both created and experienced by the two.

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Introducing a New Hero’s Journey
Back of the Yards!

Studio Card #3 | Our New Comic Series!

Summary

With this Studio Card production, we introduce you to the Back of the Yards!, a Creative Commons comic project produced by the Made Collaborative Studio. Back of the Yards is 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.

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.

Who is…
Erihii Nyamor?

Who is Eric Nyamor?

Brief

Erihii Nyamor (aka Eric) keeps things grounded and real while being one of the team’s biggest dreamers. His anime-influenced art adds both vibrance and credibility to the project. Since the launch, he’s played a key role in artistic and character development.

Core Personality Traits & Values

Eric combines his passion for storytelling with a strong belief in the transformative power of art. He’s both a visionary and a collaborator, using creativity to connect and inspire.

Archetype

The Creator

Motto

"No matter how hard or impossible it is, never lose sight of your goals."

Collaboration Background

Erihii has been creating dynamic art and characters for as long as he can remember. His recent projects include collaborations with the Nashville Black Market and illustrations for children's books across Tennessee.

Latest Work

Linked below you'll find Erihii's Instagram for the latest on work and appearances. Further info can also be found on his "I Can Draw" website. The Yas x Yen IG is a production journal of Nyamor's graphic novel in progress.

Who is…
Peaches?

Studio Card #10: The Street Corner Mentor

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

The Hero’s Journey (Part III)
The Return

Studio Card #6: The Hero’s Journey (Part III) – The Return

Brief

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.

Who is…
Draymond Carter?

Studio Card#17: Who is Draymond Carter?

Brief

Draymond Carter 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. Draymond is Russell Patterson’s fiery-tempered younger cousin. But the cousins are more like brothers ever since Russell moved in with his Auntie, Evelyn (Draymond’s mother).

Core Personality

Draymond’s extroverted and assertive personality is a stark contrast to Russell’s more gentle and introverted nature.

Archetype

The Sidekick

Motto

“You're going to lose.”

Collaboration Background

Draymond 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…
Andre Davis?

Studio Card #4: Our New Comic Hero

Brief

Andre Davis 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. Andre is a young African American high school youth who suddenly obtains god-like superpowers through an encounter he has in an alley within his Back of the Yards neighborhood.

Core Personality Traits & Values

Andre is bright, inquisitive and self-reliant, always searching for the truth and a greater understanding of himself and others … but he may also be susceptible to the trappings of his newfound power …

Archetype

The Hero

Motto

“To dare is to do.”

Collaboration Background

Andre’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

All Stories Start With

A Great Character!

Older Studio Card #1 | Let’s Create a Character(s)!

Brief

Welcome to the Made Collaborative Studio! This Studio Card #2 represents your first step on a creative journey with us. We begin this collaborative virtual studio just as it began in a classroom in the West Side of Chicago years ago - by providing you with an opportunity to create your own original comic character(s).

Scope

As you might expect, creative collaboration is at the heart of the Made Collaborative Studio. We believe in sharing stories, intertwining ideas and giving a voice to participating urban youth and collaborators like you. ALL OF YOUR STORIES MATTER. And that's why we begin this virtual journey with the creation of your own original character, some of which may be including in our Back of the Yards comic series!

This & That

The most intriguing submissions to this and all of our Studio Card may highlighted on our website. We'll showcase them on our "This & That" blog. And a few of you may also be invited to take part in one of our regular Zoom workshop sessions to further develop selected characters.

The Hero’s Journey (Part II)
Initiation

Studio Card #5: The Hero’s Journey (Part II) – Initiation

Brief

In the first part of the Hero’s Journey, the hero answered the call and stepped into the unknown. Now comes the real test. This stage—Initiation—is where the hero is challenged, pushed, and transformed.

Scope

The middle of the journey is where things get messy. The hero faces trials, enemies, and obstacles that test their strength and resolve. But they also find allies—unexpected friendships that help them push forward. Every challenge brings them closer to who they need to become, preparing them for the greatest test still to come.

This & That

The Made Collaborative has developed a storytelling framework rooted in timeless methods. Through this process, urban youth and professional collaborators alike have shaped Back of the Yards. Now, it’s your turn. Dive into the journey, add your voice, and your work could even be featured in a future issue of the comic

All Stories Start With

A Great Character!

Studio Card #1 | Let’s Create a Character(s)!

Brief

Scope

This & That

Who is…
Russell Patterson?