07 | Issue #3 Collaborations
| Brief | For Issue #3, we're opening the mysterious world of Carl Castañeda - and Room 23 - to collaboration. Castañeda has quietly connected the journeys of Andre, Tamia and others from the beginning, but much about who he is, what he knows and the strange space known as Room 23 remains unexplored. We're inviting you to help us imagine what lies inside Room 23, what purpose it serves, and what it might reveal about Castañeda and the larger forces shaping the world of Back of the Yards. |
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| Core Personality Traits & Values | He clearly knows more than what he is saying, but the best teachers do not give they answers but merely point the way. |
| Primary Archetype | The Mentor |
| Motto | “Your dreams are part of the same primal energy that brings all existence into being!” |
| Collaboration Background | Mr. Castañeda is a character developed by Len Kody. He is a way of tying the various narratives and characters created by the first wave of participating youth as part of an after school program in the West-Side of Chicago. |
| Debut | Issue #2 of the Back of the Yards comic series |
Quick Introduction
Carl Castaneda - Did He Just Appear Out of Thin Air?
Mr. Castañeda has the poise and bearing of a seasoned teacher. But nobody knows who he is. Mr. Castañeda may or may not be a real teacher, but his afterschool arts program is ardently attended by those in the know.
Their regular meetings in Room 23 are no secret, nor are they what one would call common knowledge. By all appearances, Mr. Castañeda handpicks young people of promise and extends them a personal invitation.
His recruitment efforts have been fruitful. Tamia and Russell are both already in the program. Andre was recently invited.
Mr. Castañeda knows more than what he is saying. Which is a little staggering, when you think about it, because he says an awful lot. He speaks to his students as a shaman would to his apprentices, seeming to prepare them for some future challenge. He encourages them to see the intrinsic power within themselves.
“Calm yourself,” he says to two fighting students, “Your anger is your weakness.”
In his classroom lecture, Mr. Castañeda alludes to celebrated comic book scholar Scott McCloud and his theory of art: “It is a happy fact of human existence that we simply can’t spend every waking hour eating and having sex!”
Art, Castañeda explains, is an elevated, almost sacred human activity, because it is not motivated by life’s two most compelling instincts—survival and reproduction.
McCloud puts the whole artistic enterprise of our civilization into perspective, observing that art is what we expressive apes will inevitably do “when we just don’t have a thing to do!”
Be that as it may, McCloud only leaves us with a pithy definition of art. As for its purpose?
Mr. Castañeda has some thoughts to share on that, as well.
“Your dreams are part of the primal energy that brings all existence into being!”
A glimpse inside the mind of Carl Castañeda.
Carl Castañeda has spent years guiding young people toward discoveries they don't yet fully understand.
But what guides Castañeda himself?
The Red Book offers a different perspective on the mysterious mentor—a collection of writings, observations and ideas that may offer clues to what he knows, what he believes, and what he's preparing his students to discover.
Open the Red Book below. As you explore its pages, consider what they might reveal about Castañeda, Room 23 and the larger world of Back of the Yards.
Meeting the Mentor
Today, Carl Castañeda serves as a mysterious mentor to Andre, Tamia and the other students in New City High’s after-school arts program.
But every mentor has a story of his own.
Earlier in his journey, Castañeda traveled to Mexico, where he encountered Sancho Panza — a shaman whose wisdom, unconventional teachings and unusual perspective would help shape Castañeda’s own path of discovery.
Who was Sancho Panza? What did Castañeda learn from him? And how might those lessons influence what he now teaches his students?
Some of those answers remain mysteries. But the echoes of that earlier journey may still be felt inside Room 23.
Inside Room #23
An ordinary classroom. Or something more?
At New City High, Castañeda has quietly assembled a small group of promising young people for his after-school arts program. Tamia and Russell are already part of the group. Andre has recently received his invitation.
Their meetings take place in Room 23, where Castañeda encourages his students to explore art, imagination and the extraordinary possibilities within themselves.
Much about the room, however, remains unexplored.
What does it look like? What might we find on its walls, shelves or desks? Are there objects with unusual histories? And what happens when Castañeda gathers his students together?
Forces Unknown
Room 23 may be more than a place for artistic discovery. Beyond the familiar halls of New City High, unknown forces are quietly shaping events — and perhaps the lives of Andre, Tamia and their classmates.
What does Castañeda know about these forces? And what role might Room 23 play in the events still to unfold?
Enter the Workshop
Every room has a story. This one may have several.
You've met Castañeda, explored his Red Book and learned a little about his mysterious past.
Now we're inviting you to help us imagine what lies inside Room 23.
What does the classroom look and feel like? What artwork, objects or unusual details might we discover? What kinds of conversations, lessons or unexpected events might unfold here?
This is your opportunity to help shape Room 23 for Issue #3 of Back of the Yards.
Describe it. Draw it. Invent something that belongs there. Or imagine a moment that might take place inside.
Selected ideas and creative contributions may help influence how Room 23 appears in the finished comic.
ENTER THE ROOM 23 WORKSHOP →
Submit Your Artwork
The Made Collaborative Studio is fueled by your artistic contributions. We’re a community of artists and storytellers who want to build something supportive for creatives of all backgrounds and ages.
We encourage you to participate in our collaborative community by showing off some of your work. We may feature your artwork in the future.
Table of Contents
Continue to Explore the World of the Back of the Yards
08 | Issue #3 Collaborations
| Brief | For Issue #3, we're returning to our Create a Character framework - but this time, we're opening the halls of New City High and inviting you to help us populate them. From students and teachers to administrators, friends, rivals and unexpected personalities, we'll use the same creative process introduced earlier in the Studio to build the community surrounding Andre and Tamia. At least two of the characters created through this collaboration will appear in Issue #3 - with the possibility that others may return in stories still to come. |
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| Background | New City High is filled with students, teachers and personalities whose stories are still waiting to be told. As we develop Issue #3 of Back of the Yards, we're inviting collaborators to create original characters who might walk its halls, form new relationships and help bring the school community to life. |
| This & That | Selected ideas and artwork may be featured through Made Collaborative and considered as we develop new characters that may ultimately appear in Issue #3 or future issues. Contributors whose ideas are incorporated into these new characters will be credited as part of its development. |
Every Great Story
Begins With Great Characters
CREATING NEW NEW CITY HIGH CHARACTERS!
Every school has its characters. Help us create ours.
New City High is more than a backdrop for Back of the Yards. It’s a place where friendships form, rivalries develop, and young people begin discovering who they are.
We’ve already met students like Andre, Tamia and Russell. But the halls of New City High are filled with other stories waiting to be told.
Who else might we meet?
A new student with an unusual past? A teacher who sees something others overlook? A classmate, rival, friend or unexpected ally?
As we develop Issue #3, we’re inviting you to help populate New City High with original characters inspired by your imagination and experiences.
Your character could become part of the world we’re building together.
STEP ONE
Creating Your Character's Basic
Background & Physical Traits
Let’s start with the basics.
Every day, students, teachers and staff walk through the halls of New City High. Each has a story, even if we don’t know it yet.
And that’s where we’ll start.
Imagine someone we might encounter at New City High.
What do they look like? How old are they? How do they dress? How do they carry themselves? Are they someone who blends into the crowd — or someone who immediately stands out?
As you work through this first step, we’ll use Andre Davis, one of the first characters created through the original Made Collaborative workshops, as a frame of reference for how a few basic physical and background details can begin to make a character feel real.
Explore Issue #1 of Back of the Yards below, inspired by our original youth collaborations on Chicago's West Side. The story and characters were further developed by Len Kody and Jimmy Briseno, with illustrations by Dan Dougherty.
You can also download or print a PDF copy using the first icon on the right side of the flipbook's bottom toolbar.
PHYSICAL TRAITS TO CONSIDER
Physical traits can help bring your character to life. Consider details like hair color and style, eye shape and color, facial features, skin tone, and body type. These characteristics can make your character more distinctive and offer clues about their personality or background.
For more inspiration, explore the table below or check out this helpful guide to physical descriptions.
BASIC BACKGROUND ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER
Beyond physical traits, consider your character’s basic background, including age, birthplace, nationality, education, occupation, residence, and family relationships.
Think of this step as introducing a character in a movie screenplay. A few carefully chosen details can help readers visualize who your character is before exploring their personality, motivations, and deeper story.
For a great example, consider how the screenplay for Training Day, starring Denzel Washington, introduces Detective Alonzo Harris:
“DETECTIVE SERGEANT ALONZO HARRIS, IN BLACK SHIRT, BLACK LEATHER JACKET. AND JUST ENOUGH PLATINUM AND DIAMONDS TO LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY. HE READS THE PAPER IN A BOOTH. THE GUN-LEATHER-TOUGH L.A.P.D. VET IS A HANDS-ON, BLUE-COLLAR COP WHO CAN KICK YOUR ASS WITH A LOOK.”
In just a few sentences, we get a vivid sense of Alonzo's appearance, occupation, and personality.
Watch the clip below to see how this brief character description comes to life on screen!
Now, Your Turn!
Prompt #1
Picture your character walking through the halls of New City High for the first time.
What might catch someone’s attention? Think about the character’s age, build, hair, clothing, facial features, posture or anything else that makes them distinctive.
What are the first physical details someone might notice about your character?
Prompt #2
Now look beyond his appearance.
How old is he? Does he live in Back of the Yards? Did he grow up here—or is he new to the neighborhood? Does he go to school? Work? Have family nearby?
You don’t need to know his entire story yet. Just start with a few basic details that give us a sense of the life he may have lived.
Prompt #3
Now bring those ideas together.
Using the Training Day example above as inspiration, imagine that you’re writing the young man’s first appearance in the Issue #3 screenplay.
In just two or three sentences, introduce us to the person.
What would the reader see before they knew anything else about him?
STEP TWO
Developing Your Character's Personality Traits
In Step One, we began with what others might see—your character’s appearance, some basic details about their background, and the first impression they might make.
Now let’s look beneath the surface.
What is your character actually like?
Are they confident or insecure? Quiet or outspoken? Careful or impulsive? Do they trust people easily, or keep everyone at a distance?
A character’s personality shapes how they respond to the world around them—and often tells us far more about them than their appearance ever could.
So for Step Two, we’ll begin thinking about the traits that make your character unique. In other words, we’ll begin exploring their personality.
And perhaps few characters in popular culture have a personality as complicated—or unpredictable—as the comic book villain known as The Joker…
How would you describe the Joker’s personality? Impulsive? Humorous? Creative? Daring? Unpredictable?
Which of the personality traits below best describe him?
For more inspiration, explore this extensive list of character traits from ProWritingAid, a resource for creative writers.
In contrast to the Joker's fictional personality, let's consider the real-life legacy of Frida Kahlo, one of the most influential artists of her time.
A Mexican painter celebrated for her deeply personal self-portraits, Kahlo explored themes of identity, pain, and resilience. Despite significant health challenges, she became an enduring symbol of creativity, individuality, and Mexican cultural pride.
After watching the video, how would you describe Frida’s personality? Creative? Daring? Inventive? Thoughtful?
While Frida and the Joker may share certain traits, such as creativity and daring, their personalities are otherwise strikingly different.
These differences also reflect something deeper: their character archetypes, which we’ll explore in Step Three.
But first! …
NOW, Your Turn!
Prompt #4
Think about the new character you’ve begun creating.
Choose three to five personality traits that describe that character.
Is he confident? Guarded? Loyal? Reckless? Funny? Suspicious? Ambitious? Impulsive? Something else entirely?
Don’t worry about whether the traits are “good” or “bad.” Interesting characters usually contain a little of both.
Prompt #5
When someone first meets your character at New City High, they’ll probably make assumptions based on what they see.
What might people initially get wrong about your character?
Maybe someone who appears intimidating is surprisingly thoughtful. Someone who seems confident is actually terrified. Someone who looks like a troublemaker has a good reason for breaking the rules.
What’s beneath the first impression?
Prompt #6
Personality often reveals itself most clearly when something goes wrong.
Imagine your character faces a difficult situation at New City High. Maybe they’re challenged, embarrassed, threatened or forced to make a quick decision.
What do they do?
Do they confront the problem? Walk away? Make a joke? Lose their temper? Protect someone else? Pretend they aren’t afraid?
How does their reaction reveal something about who they really are?
What does his reaction tell us about who he or she really is?
STEP THREE
Character Archetypes and Core Personality Traits
By now, our character is beginning to take shape. We have a sense of what Dex sees when he first encounters him—and the personality that might lie beneath that first impression.
Now let’s go deeper: What drives him?
Compelling characters are shaped by their values, desires, and fears. One way to explore these motivations is through character archetypes — familiar patterns that help us understand a character’s motivations and role in a story.
Consider the Joker and Frida Kahlo from Step Two. Both faced adversity, but followed very different paths. The Joker embraced chaos and destruction, while Frida channeled her struggles into creativity and artistic expression.
These contrasting paths offer a useful introduction to character archetypes, which we’ll explore below.
Our exploration of character archetypes begins with Carl Gustav Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and influential figure in modern psychology.
Jung introduced the concept of the “collective unconscious”—the idea that humans share certain universal patterns and symbols that shape how we understand ourselves and the world. From these shared patterns emerge familiar character archetypes that appear throughout history, mythology, and storytelling.
Click below to explore these archetypes and discover which might describe the Joker, Frida Kahlo, and other familiar fictional and historical figures!
Closely related to character archetypes are core values — the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide a character’s choices and actions. Think of them as your character’s personal compass.
Together, a character’s archetype and core values help shape their motivations, decisions, and role in the story.
Explore the sample values below, or browse this more comprehensive list of core values for additional inspiration.
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Now, YOUR TURN!
Prompt #7
Think about the archetypes above. Which one – or combination – feels closest to the character you’re creating?
More importantly, what does that character want?
Respect? Belonging? Independence? Security? Recognition? Revenge? A way out? Something else entirely?
What matters enough to him that it might influence the choices your character may make in Issue #3 and beyond?
Prompt #8
Every character has a story, but no character exists in isolation.
Think about the character you’ve created for New City High.
How might they connect with the people and stories already unfolding around them?
Perhaps they become a friend, rival or unexpected ally to Andre or Tamia. Maybe they have a connection to Castañeda, Room 23 or another part of the school.
Where might your character fit into the world of Back of the Yards?
Prompt #9
Every memorable character has something that makes them unique.
What sets your New City High character apart from everyone else?
Maybe it’s an unusual ambition, a deeply held belief, a hidden talent or an experience that shaped how they see the world.
Give your character something distinctly their own – something that makes their story worth telling.
STEP FOUR
A Lightening Round - Your Character's
Biography and Other Interesting Facts!
With your character's physical traits, background, personality, archetype, and core values taking shape, it's time to add the details that make them truly unique!
In this final step, we'll explore your character's backstory, relationships, and personal experiences through 100 quick questions in the Google Slides presentation below. Answer as many as inspire you!
And for a little creative inspiration, we turn to Stan Lee, the legendary Marvel creator behind Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and many more.
Original artwork by participating artist Eric Nyamor.
Every character has a life before we meet them — family, friendships, memories, ambitions, and experiences that shape who they become.
We may never see all those details in the comic, but they help make a character feel real.
Now let’s explore who this young man was before we encountered him or her.
Now, YOUR TURN!
Prompt #10
Every character has a life before we meet them.
Think about the character you’re creating for New City High. Where did they grow up? Who raised them? Who matters most to them? What experiences have shaped the person they’re becoming?
Give us a little of your character’s story before we first encounter them at New City High.
Prompt #11
Now bring your character’s past into the present.
Why is your character at New City High at this particular moment?
Are they looking for somewhere to belong? Trying to prove themselves? Pursuing a dream? Escaping something from their past? Or simply navigating everyday school life?
What does your character want — and how might that shape their relationships and experiences at New City High?
Prompt #12
We’ve imagined what your character looks like. We’ve explored their personality, motivations, background and place in the world of New City High.
There’s just one thing left.
What’s their name?
It can be a real name, a nickname, or both.
We’ve spent some time getting to know this character. Now it’s time to introduce them to the world.
Let's Collaborate!
POPULATE NEW CITY HIGH
You've met Andre, Tamia and some of the other personalities shaping the world of Back of the Yards.
But New City High is filled with stories we haven't told yet.
Who else might walk these halls?
We're developing new characters for Issue #3—and we'd like your help imagining the students, teachers and personalities who bring this school to life.
ENTER THE WORKSHOP →
No drawing skills required. Just bring your imagination.
Submit Your Artwork
Although by no means, required, but to the extent you have developed any concept sketches or illustrations of your new character, we encourage you to submit those illustrations to us. Just do us a favor and let us know which character you are submitting illustrations for, and we will absolutely make sure our artists receive them when they are reviewing your character submissions!
And we may feature your artwork in the future either on the project website or directly in our comic issues, all subject to your approval!
Table of Contents
Continue to Explore the World of the Back of the Yards!
09 | Issue #3 Collaborations
| Brief | For our second Issue #3 collaboration centered on Andre Davis, we're opening the pages of his notebook - and inviting young creators, artists, and storytellers to help fill them. Earlier, we explored Andre's emerging abilities and what becoming extraordinary might mean for him. This time, we're turning to his creative side: What might Andre draw, sketch, write, or imagine when no one else is looking? Selected contributions may ultimately appear inside Andre's notebook in the finished comic, giving collaborators an opportunity to leave their creative mark on Issue #3 of Back of the Yards. |
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| 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 |
A Quick Introduction
Many of our initial stories and characters in Back of the Yards aren’t really entirely ours. We are but humble stewards to the exciting new narrative avenues Jimmy Briseno discovered while facilitating the Made Collaborative After School Arts Program with real urban youth in Chicago in the winter of 2013.
Indeed, this entire project can be traced to a single, intrepid utterance by a young man whom we call “Andre.” It was a declaration that emboldened us all:
“I’ve got an idea. I know what story I want to tell. And it’s going to be great!”
Andre’s audacity, creativity and charm crystalized the vision we have for this whole enterprise. So, it is absolutely fitting that the character he inspired should step forward into a leading role for this first chapter of Back of the Yards: “Just Dreamin’.”
Andre's Story
The premise of Andre’s story is that Andre himself, as the main character, obtains “god-like” powers through a supernatural encounter in his Chicago neighborhood.
As originally described, the story begins with Andre and a friend walking to a house party of a known high school acquaintance. At the party, Andre sees some familiar faces and also some new ones. He meets Charmayne for the first time. The two banter as they get to know one another. Charmayne—one-half of a precocious pair of twins—challenges Andre’s rebellious and self-assured manner.
That is, until he hears some commotion outside.
Meanwhile …
Tamia is at the very same party. The party serves as the backdrop for an important point in her narrative, as well. Has she been betrayed? She’s been hearing rumors and fearing the worst. So, she confronts her boyfriend, Wilson, the young man with whom she’d spent one magical summer.
The bracing winds of autumn, however, have a way of revealing difficult truths. The young lovers argue. Wailing and in tears, Tamia dashes from the adolescent revelry.
The Wake-Up Call
A high-pitched whistle, or a siren, rings throughout the party. It’s so loud it’s painful! But only Andre can hear it.
Andre reels, bidding an abrupt farewell to Charmayne. He stumbles to the alley behind the house, the apparent source of the piercing tone. This is where the story takes an interesting turn—both in Andre’s tale and in the story of how the Made Collaborative project came to be.
While “Andre,” our participating youth, described his fantastic alleyway vision to Jimmy, the cinematic sweep of all the kids’ narratives took shape in Jimmy’s mind. There was potential here. It was palpable. These were all creative, fun and sometimes personal teenage stories, to be sure. But, to Jimmy, there seemed to be more to them than only that. As in dreams, the familiar sights and sounds of everyday life can also indicate hidden features of the collective unconscious.
Jimmy felt his suspense heighten as the youth continued his chronicle…
The Translucent Staircase
The alarming sound fades as Andre steps into the alley. He raises his eyes to the soft, pallid glow of what he assumes to be the full moon. Appearing in the middle of the alley, a flight of golden, translucent stairs lead towards the sky, beckoning Andre to ascend.
Ascend he does, where he finds himself in the smooth interior of a higher dimensional craft. He is greeted by a giant—one of the mysterious Secret Chiefs—who immediately speaks words of comfort and reassurance.
“Welcome, Andre. Please, don’t be alarmed. We’ve been expecting you.”
Having heard the otherworldly call to adventure, and answered, Andre can now worthily receive his revelation. The strange visitor explains that he has the power to make his dreams real. It is a power which, for now, distinguishes Andre from the other characters in Back of the Yards.
Fight!
Aloft in the moon-shaped craft, Andre observes others’ dreams, as well, like the video-game combat of Russell and Draymond. As their ninja alter egos, Teshue and Shiro, their sparring is cut short when they are attacked by a gang of bullies.
Andre feels compelled to intercede. Once again answering the hero’s call, he emerges from the dream craft as a heightened version of himself—a true superhero like the kind he draws in his sketchbooks. If not yet a god, Andre is now far more than mere mortal. Using his enhanced physical abilities, he easily beats back the bullies.
An Uncertain Future
We follow Andre’s journey as he comes to terms with his newly obtained powers, and begins to contemplate how he will use those powers as a teen still living in his inner-city neighborhood.
To be continued … in the Back of the Yards comic!
A Made Collaborative Studio Production
01 | Issue #3 Collaborations
This Studio Card is part of the Back of the Yards comic series, a Creative Commons project developed by the Made Collaborative Studio. You can learn more about our Creative Commons license by visiting the Explore the Studio page, but in short, what this means is that as a Creative Commons project, you can copy, redistribute, remix, transform, and build upon the content for any purpose, even commercially, as long as you give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. And if you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license above.
If you’d like to explore the Back of the Yards comic further, you can see and access the Studio Card to your right and/or the related Studio Cards below. Thanks for collaborating with us!
Enter the Workshop
Andre Davis has always had a vivid imagination. Long before discovering his extraordinary abilities, he was already creating superheroes, characters, and worlds of his own through the pages of his sketchbook.
For this second Andre collaboration, we’re inviting you to imagine what else might fill those pages. Original drawings, character sketches, handwritten stories, poetry, or even seemingly ordinary doodles could reveal something about Andre’s personality, interests, and dreams.
Here’s your opportunity to help fill Andre’s notebook! Selected contributions may be incorporated into the notebook as it appears in Issue #3 of Back of the Yards.
Andre Davis has always had a vivid imagination, filling his notebook with superheroes, sketches, stories, and ideas of his own.
For Issue #3 of Back of the Yards, we're inviting you to help fill those pages! What might Andre draw, write, or imagine when no one else is looking?
Submit an original drawing, character sketch, poem, short story, or even a simple doodle that might belong in Andre's notebook. Not an artist? No problem! You can describe your idea in words instead.
Selected contributions may be featured inside Andre's notebook in the finished comic, giving you an opportunity to become part of the creative process.
No experience necessary - just bring your imagination!
Submit Your Artwork
The Made Collaborative Studio is fueled by your artistic contributions. We’re a community of artists and storytellers who want to build something supportive for creatives of all backgrounds and ages.
We encourage you to participate in our collaborative community by showing off some of your work. We may feature your artwork in the future. With this submission, we are would welcome in particular any illustrations that include the Andre character, but we welcome all of your submissions even if Andre is not included.
Table of Contents
Continue to Explore the World of the Back of the Yards
02 | Issue #3 Collaborations
03 | Issue #3 Collaborations
Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration
07 | Issue #3 Collaborations
Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration
01 | Issue #3 Collaborations
11 | Issue #3 Collaborations
10 | Issue #3 Collaborations
04 | Issue #3 Collaborations
06 | Issue #3 Collaborations
10 | Issue #3 Collaborations
| Brief | For Issue #3 of Back of the Yards, we're taking a closer look at Dex Coleman - one of the neighborhood Elders whose sharp wit and colorful past may conceal more than anyone realizes. Dex has lived through decades of neighborhood history, including his connections to Darius King and Chicago's criminal underworld. As the past begins to intersect with the present, we're inviting collaborators to explore what Dex might recognize, who he might see, and what those encounters could reveal about the larger story unfolding around him. |
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| 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 |
Quick Introduction
The Funky Finger of Fate
Three wisecracking neighborhood veterans hold court around a pickle barrel outside Kozlow’s General Store: Peaches, Dex, and Big Earl. Known collectively as the Elders, these longtime friends have largely retired from the colorful ventures of their younger days—but they haven’t stopped keeping an eye on the neighborhood.
Like the Fates of ancient mythology, the Elders observe the lives unfolding around them, offering commentary, perspective, and the occasional bit of unsolicited wisdom. Their sharp humor and firsthand knowledge of the neighborhood’s history remind the younger generation that today’s troubles often have roots in yesterday’s stories.
And among the three, few have a more colorful history than Dex Coleman.
Lightning Quick Wit
Dex Coleman has always had a way with words. Quick with a joke, a clever observation, or a perfectly timed wisecrack, Dex can find humor in just about any situation – even when the circumstances aren’t particularly funny.
But there’s more to his sharp tongue than comic relief. Years spent navigating Chicago’s streets taught Dex how to read people, think on his feet, and occasionally talk his way out of trouble. His humor can be disarming, but beneath it lies the street smarts of someone who’s seen – and survived – quite a bit.
These days, Dex puts those talents to use alongside Peaches and Big Earl, offering the younger generation a mixture of humor, hard-earned wisdom, and the occasional questionable advice.
Old Habits Die Hard
Long before Dex Coleman became one of the neighborhood Elders, he made his living navigating Chicago’s underground policy racket—an illegal numbers game that once flourished throughout the city’s neighborhoods.
It was a world of hustlers, bookmakers, neighborhood operators, and larger-than-life personalities, where knowing the right people could be just as valuable as knowing the right numbers. Dex learned to survive through quick thinking, street smarts, and an uncanny ability to talk himself out of trouble.
Although those days are largely behind him, Dex’s past hasn’t entirely disappeared. Old acquaintances, unfinished business, and stories he’d rather leave untold still linger beneath his easygoing exterior.
And that raises an interesting question: What kinds of adventures – and misadventures – might Dex have experienced along the way?
Whose Hustling Who?
Long before state lotteries became commonplace, illegal numbers games—often called the policy racket—were a fixture of Chicago neighborhood life. Players wagered small amounts on combinations of numbers, hoping for a big payout, while an underground network of runners, bookmakers, and operators kept the business moving.
The racket created opportunities for neighborhood hustlers, but it also attracted powerful criminal organizations looking to control its profits. Behind the everyday transactions was a complicated world of alliances, rivalries, shifting loyalties, and occasional violence.
For someone like Dex Coleman, navigating that world required more than luck. It took street smarts, quick thinking, and knowing when to talk—and when to keep quiet.
But what really happened during Dex’s years in the racket? That’s a part of his history we’re leaving open for collaborators to help imagine.
Dream Logic
In Chicago’s old policy racket, numbers weren’t always chosen at random. Some players looked to dreams, superstitions, and everyday experiences for clues about which numbers might bring them luck.
Dream books offered interpretations of common images and events, assigning numbers to everything from animals and familiar objects to unusual encounters. For some players, a vivid dream or chance occurrence could become the inspiration for their next wager.
For a neighborhood hustler like Dex Coleman, these beliefs were simply another part of the world he navigated — a world where luck, intuition, and a little imagination could sometimes seem just as important as knowing the right people.
And perhaps Dex had a few unusual experiences of his own. After all, in a world built around numbers and chance, sometimes the strangest stories begin with something that seems completely ordinary.
Enter the Workshop - What Does Dex Know?
Dex Coleman is one of the neighborhood Elders in Back of the Yards. Known for his sharp wit and colorful past, Dex has spent decades navigating the complicated relationships between the neighborhood's economic, political, and criminal forces.
Along the way, he's crossed paths with some interesting characters — including the mysterious Darius King. And while Dex may have survived his younger days, the secrets of his past haven't necessarily stayed buried.
As we develop Issue #3, we're inviting you to explore Dex's history, imagine what he might know, and consider what could happen when the past finally catches up with him.
Join this free Made Collaborative Workshop and help us uncover the possibilities. No writing or artistic experience required — just your imagination!
Table of Contents
Continue to Explore the World of the Back of the Yards!
02 | Issue #3 Collaborations
03 | Issue #3 Collaborations
07 | Issue #3 Collaborations
01 | Issue #3 Collaborations
11 | Issue #3 Collaborations
06 | Issue #3 Collaborations
05 | Issue #3 Collaborations
09 | Issue #3 Collaborations
12 | Issue #3 Collaborations
11 | Issue #3 Collaborations
| Brief | The Monahans began as a mock comic book cover commission, but now they're finding a place within the world of Back of the Yards. In Issue #3, readers may catch a glimpse of their comic tucked inside Andre Davis's backpack - a small detail that could open the door to a much larger story. For this collaboration, we're inviting writers, artists, and other creative minds to help imagine that story. Using the Hero's Journey as a creative starting point, we'll explore who the Monahans might be, what adventures await them, and how their fictional world might take shape. Whether through storytelling, original artwork, or simply describing an idea, collaborators can help develop a fictional universe that may someday extend beyond this brief appearance. |
|---|---|
| When | The Monahans will be introduced through Andre's storyline in Issue #3, with opportunities to develop its fictional history and world through our ongoing Studio collaborations. |
| Who | The characters, personalities, and world of the Monahans are still largely unexplored. That's where participating writers, artists, and other creative collaborators come in. |
| Why | To create a backstory for the Monahans and imagine the places where their adventures might unfold. Artists can contribute original background illustrations, while non-artists can describe settings in words. Selected ideas may help shape the comic's fictional world and potentially inspire future stories. |
Overview Summary
The Monahans began as a standalone mock cover illustration, but now they’re finding a place within the world of Back of the Yards. In Issue #3, readers may catch a glimpse of their comic tucked inside Andre Davis’s backpack — a small detail that could open the door to a much larger story.
For this collaboration, we’re inviting writers, artists, and other creative minds to help imagine that story. Who are the Monahans, and what adventures might they have? What kinds of places and settings might bring their world to life? Whether through storytelling, original artwork, or simply describing an idea, collaborators can help build a fictional universe that may someday extend beyond this brief appearance.
A Quick Introduction
Andre Davis has always had a vivid imagination. Long before discovering his extraordinary abilities, he was already filling his notebooks with sketches of superheroes, characters, and worlds of his own.
So it only seems natural that Andre would also be an avid comic book reader.
In Issue #3 of Back of the Yards, readers may catch a glimpse of The Monahans, a comic book tucked inside Andre’s backpack. It’s a small detail in the larger story, but one that offers an interesting creative opportunity.
After all, every comic book has a story behind it — even one that exists within another comic book.
And in this case, that story is still waiting to be told.
The Story Behind the Mock Comic Cover
Sometimes, a creative idea takes a little time to find its place.
The Monahans began as a commissioned mock comic book cover featuring the real-life Monahan family, illustrated by Made Collaborative artist Eric Nyamor. At the time, the artwork was a standalone creation, without any particular connection to the larger Back of the Yards storyline.
Years later, Made Collaborative founder Jimmy Briseno saw an opportunity to give the illustration a new purpose. Andre Davis, one of the central characters in Back of the Yards, is an imaginative young artist with a love for comic books. It seemed only natural that a few of his favorite comics might find their way into his backpack.
And why not make The Monahans one of them?
The idea was simple: introduce the fictional comic within Issue #3 – perhaps one of Andre’s go to comics – even if readers only catch a passing glimpse of its cover. Then invite collaborators to help imagine the larger story behind it.
It also presented another opportunity: to introduce the Hero’s Journey, one of storytelling’s most familiar frameworks for developing characters and adventures. Rather than starting with a fully developed story, why not invite collaborators to explore how a hero’s journey might unfold from the very beginning?
The Hero's Journey - Every Great Adventure Starts Somewhere
What do Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and countless superhero stories have in common?
At their core, many follow a similar storytelling pattern known as the Hero’s Journey.
Popularized by mythologist Joseph Campbell and later adapted for writers by Christopher Vogler, the Hero’s Journey offers a framework for developing characters and their adventures. A hero begins in a familiar world, encounters a challenge that changes everything, ventures into the unknown, and eventually returns transformed by the experience.
It’s a storytelling structure that has appeared in myths, legends, books, movies, and comics across generations.
And it offers a useful starting point for our next creative challenge: imagining the story behind the Monahans.
The Hero's Journey at a Glance
The diagram above illustrates the 12 stages of the Hero’s Journey, beginning in the familiar Ordinary World, moving into the challenges of the Special World, and ultimately returning home.
Each stage represents a different part of the hero’s adventure. While we’ll explore these stages in greater detail through future Made Collaborative workshops, for now, it’s helpful to understand the journey through three broader phases.
Watch: What Makes a Hero?
Want to see how the Hero’s Journey works in practice?
In this short animated TED-Ed video, Matthew Winkler explores the storytelling framework through familiar characters and adventures, showing how heroes leave their ordinary worlds, face unexpected challenges, and return changed by their experiences.
As you watch, think about how these same storytelling elements might help us imagine the adventures of the Monahans.
The Three Phases of the Hero's Journey
While the Hero’s Journey is often illustrated through 12 individual stages, we can also think about it in three broader phases. Each helps us understand how a character’s story develops from beginning to end.
1. The Ordinary World — Where the Story Begins
Every hero starts somewhere. Before the adventure begins, we get to know the character, their surroundings, and the people and things that matter to them.
Something to consider: Who are the Monahans before their adventure begins? What does their everyday world look like?
2. The Adventure — Into the Unknown
Something happens that disrupts the hero’s ordinary life. They encounter new challenges, meet allies and adversaries, and make decisions that shape their journey.
Something to consider: What event sends the Monahans on an adventure? What challenges might they encounter along the way?
3. The Return — A Changed Hero
Eventually, the hero’s journey comes full circle. Whether they succeed or fail, the experiences they’ve encountered have changed them in some meaningful way.
Something to consider: How might the Monahans be different at the end of their adventure? What have they learned or discovered?
Let's Bring it Back to the Monahans
So, what does the Hero’s Journey have to do with the Monahans? That’s where you come in.
We have a mock comic book cover featuring the Monahans, but their fictional story has yet to be developed. Who are these characters? What kind of world do they inhabit? And what adventures might be waiting for them?
The Hero’s Journey gives us one possible framework for exploring those questions. But it’s not a set of rules. You don’t need to follow all 12 stages or develop an entire story from beginning to end.
Instead, think of it as a creative starting point.
Maybe you have an idea for the Monahans’ origins. Maybe you can imagine an unexpected challenge that sends them on an adventure. Or perhaps you have a particular setting in mind—a mysterious city, a distant planet, or a place that exists only in your imagination.
There are plenty of ways to help bring their world to life.
In the workshop below, we’ll explore two opportunities to collaborate: developing the Monahans’ story and creating the places where their adventures might unfold.
Enter the Workshop -
Help Us Create "The Monahans"!
We’ve got a mock comic book cover. And we’ve explored the Hero’s Journey. Now it’s time to put some of those ideas to work. There’s one thing missing: the story itself.
Who are the Monahans? What makes them interesting? What challenges might they face? And what kind of world do they live in?
That’s what we’re inviting you to help imagine. For this collaboration, we’re offering two creative challenges. You can participate in either one—or both!
Challenge #1 — Create the Story
Help develop the fictional backstory of the Monahans. Use the Hero’s Journey as inspiration, or take the story in an entirely unexpected direction.
Challenge #2 — Build the World
Imagine a place where the Monahans’ adventures might unfold. Create an original illustration, sketch a background, or simply describe the setting in your own words.
There’s no single right answer, and you don’t need to be a professional writer or artist to participate. We’re looking for creative ideas that can help us explore what this comic might become – and with, over time we just may use this “comic” within our own Back of the Yards comic story going forward.
A Made Collaborative Creative Workshop
The Monahans have a comic book cover. Now they need a story—and a world to explore.
That's where you come in!
Use this form to share your ideas, original artwork, or both. You can help imagine the Monahans' adventures, create a setting for their story, or take on both creative challenges.
Ready? Let's see what you come up with!
Why has it stayed with you?
Hold onto that place. Now it is time to put it on our map!
No drawing skills required. Just bring your imagination.
Submit Your Artwork
The Made Collaborative Studio is fueled by your artistic contributions. We’re a community of artists and storytellers who want to build something supportive for creatives of all backgrounds and ages.
We encourage you to participate in our collaborative community by showing off some of your work. We may feature your artwork in the future. With this submission, we are would welcome in particular any illustrations that include the Andre character, but we welcome all of your submissions even if Andre is not included.
Table of Contents
12 | Issue #3 Collaborations
| Brief | For our second Issue #3 collaboration centered on Tamia Parker - and the final collaboration in this series - we're returning to a transformation that began much earlier in the Studio. Tamia has spent Issue #3 questioning her dreams, her perceptions and what is happening to her. Now we're inviting you to help us explore what she has become, what she finally understands - and what Tamia might say when she is given the final word. |
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| 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 |
Quick Introduction
Tamia Parker was a character inspired from the first round of youth collaborations in the West Side of Chicago. During those initial collaborations, Jimmy Briseno met with a number of youth who shared initial ideas for comic characters and storylines. One of those youth was a young African American girl from that West-Side neighborhood.
The young woman’s initial question to Jimmy was whether the comic stories could be based on be based on real life, and more specifically, relationships? When Jimmy affirmed that the characters and stories could be about whatever she wanted, she would go on to describe a recent relationship experience which was characterized by drama, deception and ultimately, heartbreak.
But as she explained her experience and her story premise, the young woman also emphasized to Jimmy that she didn’t want to tell this story to focus on a broken heart and the related drama from her relationship, but rather, she wanted to emphasize how that experience ultimately helped her grow as a person and look within herself to find her value as a woman.
And from there, the inspiration for the comic character of Tamia Parker was born, which we hope will in turn inspire many more collaborations to come.
Tamia's Story - First Love
The dizzying highs and lows have long inspired song and verse. Tamia Parker, like so many young girls her age, confides her deepest thoughts and feelings to a well-worn journal that she always carries with her.
For Tamia, her poems and drawings are both an escape and an inward journey of exploration to the potent and turbulent depths within herself. Adolescence is a time of profound inner and outer change, after all—a metamorphosis. In the rough waters of constant change, it can be difficult for some teens to find their place of centeredness—their axis mundi.
Young girls, especially, are often discouraged from developing their own voice and speaking their truth. This leads to a sense of inferiority and “smallness” among many young women. They don’t think their words and actions matter as much.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
We present Tamia’s self-esteem struggles visually by depicting her dreamworld avatar as a Fairie that has not yet blossomed into the full flowering of maturity. In Tamia’s dreams, she takes on the appearance and abilities of the Fairie. And, as the Fairie grows and evolves, so too will Tamia’s own sense of centeredness within herself.
An Unforgettable Chicago Summer
Perhaps it is a lack of centeredness that leaves so many teens vulnerable to manipulation by others. For Tamia, naive to the often treacherous ways of young love, she simply trusted too much.
During one unforgettable summer, she developed very strong feelings for an older boy in her Southside Chicago neighborhood. Wilson no longer attends New City High, where Tamia is currently a sophomore. He used to play basketball there. Wilson represented for Tamia an intoxicating mix of male athletic ability and a whiff of mature confidence she’d only seen in adults. Being a somewhat shy and serious girl for her age, his attentions were more than she could resist—not that she was all that interested in resisting.
And Wilson certainly appreciated the 10 fold attention she reciprocated. Wilson is good at cultivating attention for himself. He certainly enjoys receiving it from pretty young girls. Wilson basked in the warm glow of Tamia’s constant attention all summer long.
Autumn and the End of Innocence
The sharp, cold winds of autumn also reveal long-hidden truths. When the neighborhood kids go back to school, and the recent grads go off to the working world, higher education or to any number of adult endeavors, Wilson stays home, eschewing responsibility. He falls in with a group of troublemaking neighborhood boys who keep similarly idle agendas: no job, no educational ambitions and no other interests besides a hedonistic pursuit of the diversions of the moment.
As the leaves fall from the knotted old oaks, Back of the Yards, Tamia begins to sense the imbalance in her relationship. Was she just another of Wilson’s diversions? He walks her to school every morning, but then what does he do all day? And why has the boy who basked in her attention all summer long begun to respond sharply to her probing questions? Tamia is a mature young woman. Wilson’s age was once something that drew her to him. His potential and potency were why she fell in love with him. But in the same way that the falling leaves expose a great tree’s spindly branches, Wilson’s true nature is slowly revealed to Tamia.
She unwittingly becomes entangled in a love triangle of sorts with Wilson and another girl at her school named Natalie.
Tamia begins to hear rumors that her boyfriend, Wilson, was already seeing Natalie when the young lovers met. The revelation tests her sense of self as everything she believes (and wants to believe) is called into question.T
The Transformative Power of Creativity
When the real world seems like a dream, Tamia turns to creativity to map her inner reality. The after school arts program in Room 23 and its kind, clever, though peculiar facilitator, Mr. Castaneda, encourage her to develop her art and writing.
Tamia’s creativity enhances her resilience but also her intuition as her dreams begin revealing exactly what Wilson has been hiding from her (and the truths she’s hidden from herself).
Issue #1 of Back of the Yards ends in a shocking revelation: Tamia learns that Natalie is pregnant with Wilson’s child. This fact is confirmed to Tamia when she finally confronts her ex-boyfriend after hearing the rumors from other kids at her school. To overcome the heartbreak and betrayal, Tamia will have to summon vast reservoirs of strength. Though she may be in for a surprise when she learns the extent of all that she is capable of.
In the after school arts program, Tamia strikes up an immediate friendship with Russell. Even though he is younger, the pair seem to resonate on a similar frequency. Both have deep and complex inner lives. Also, Tamia may envy Russell’s sense of wonder and innocence. As we go through periods of growth in our lives, as Tamia is, the exchange we often make for greater power and self-mastery often comes at the expense of our innocence.
Summoning the Fairie
Tamia and Russell share more than a budding, though innocent friendship. The two appear to be linked in an as-yet inexplicable way in their dreams.
Both Russell (as Teshue) and his cousin, Draymond (as Shiro) are capable of summoning familiars to their aid. Shiro’s brutish and assertive personality is matched by his pet, Enyo, a feral war-hound with a pair of curving horns atop her head. She is a loyal and ferocious wolf that obeys Shiro’s every command.
Teshue has a more difficult time summoning his familiar, the Fairie, who seems to have a will all her own. Russell is not yet aware that the Fairie does, indeed, have a will of her own because she is Tamia’s dreamworld avatar.
The difficulty that Tamia—and, by extension, Russell—have in harnessing the power of the Fairie is indicative of the extent of her power. As the Fairie continues to evolve, more powers and abilities will be revealed. But until then, both Tamia and Russell will struggle greatly to truly know themselves.
Perhaps it is some intuitive knowledge of this great yet deeply hidden power still locked within both Tamia and Russell that draws them together as allies in the seen and unseen worlds.
Their heroic journeys are quite different than that of Andre, who experiences his power in a sudden, almost uncontrollable rush. Even so, Andre is linked to the other two in ways he’s only beginning to figure out for himself.
The Call to Adventure Beyond Time and Space
When Andre is called to the craft of the Secret Chiefs, it is by a sound that resonates beyond this dimension. It is a single note from the music of the spheres, a tone that can only be heard by those chosen to hear it.
Andre eagerly answers his call to adventure. But, because of the non-linear nature of higher dimensional travel, it isn’t until a bit later that we learn the source of that call: Tamia in her Fairie-form.
Tamia was, in fact, summoned by Russell (as Teshue), who, at a key moment that would have sent many others into panic, Russell instead becomes calm and focused. His mind quieted by a deep sense of concentration from the still waters within his psyche, Teshue beckons the Fairie to join the battle.
The Fairie cries out her extra-dimensional alarm, back through time and up into the mysterious craft from which Andre incredulously observes the perilous goings-on below. When Andre emerges to save the day in his heightened, lion-form, the paradoxical time loop is closed. The cycle is complete.
Andre makes quick work of the bullies who threaten Teshue and Shiro. It’s at this point when an epiphany strikes Tamia, too. One of the thugs seems to have a connection to her philandering boyfriend, Wilson. Tamia’s intuitive dream senses provide her some glimpse of the truth. Natalie is pregnant with Wilson’s child.
Mr. Castaneda’s Guidance
Mr. Castaneda can see the potential brewing within all the students he’s personally chosen to take part in his after school arts program. Exactly who Mr. Castaneda is and what his connection might be to the bizarre, god-like travelers known as the Secret Chiefs is a story for another day. But whatever his ultimate purpose may be, his current agenda seems focused on pushing his students—like Tamia—to explore the bounds of their creative powers.
Tamia will develop a unique relationship with Mr. Castaneda, who will provide a comforting perspective as she struggles through her relationship troubles, and who will challenge her to become more when he believes she is ready to accept the truth about her power.
As she cries one night, after having had a fight with Wilson, she thinks to herself, between sobs, that art is how one can make their true selves visible to the world. This is more than Mr. Castaneda’s comforting wisdom, and more than a creative conceit of our far-out comic book adventure. It is Made Collaborative’s mission to make visible the hidden power of the project’s participating urban youth.
By helping to give a voice to the real kids in the Made Collaborative Project, we hope to unleash the limitless power within each of them.
A Made Collaborative Production
01 | Issue #3 Collaborations
This Studio Card is part of the Back of the Yards comic series, a Creative Commons project developed by the Made Collaborative Studio. You can learn more about our Creative Commons license by visiting the Explore the Studio page, but in short, what this means is that as a Creative Commons project, you can copy, redistribute, remix, transform, and build upon the content for any purpose, even commercially, as long as you give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. And if you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license above.
If you’d like to explore the Back of the Yards comic further, you can see and access the Studio Card to your right and/or the related Studio Cards below. Thanks for collaborating with us!
Enter the Workshop
Tamia Parker has a lot on her mind. And like many young artists, she uses creativity to explore her thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
She writes poetry, sketches, and is beginning to experiment with painting. But what might some of those creations actually look like?
That’s where you come in!
We’re inviting collaborators to imagine something Tamia might create in her own notebook or sketchbook. Maybe it’s a poem about something she’s experienced. A drawing inspired by her neighborhood. A painting that captures a particular emotion. Or something entirely unexpected.
You can contribute an original poem, drawing, illustration, or simply describe an idea for something Tamia might create. Selected contributions may help shape Tamia’s creative world as we continue developing Back of the Yards Issue #3.
Ready to collaborate? Share your creation or idea through the workshop form below!
Inside Tamia's Creative World!
A Made Collaborative Creative Workshop
Tamia Parker loves expressing herself through poetry, drawing, and painting. Now we're inviting you to imagine what she might create!
Share an original poem, sketch, illustration, or painting inspired by Tamia's character and experiences. Or simply describe a creative idea you think she might explore.
Your contribution could help bring Tamia's creative world to life in Back of the Yards Issue #3.
Ready? Let's see what you come up with!
Submit Your Artwork
The Made Collaborative Studio is fueled by your artistic contributions. We’re a community of artists and storytellers who want to build something supportive for creatives of all backgrounds and ages.
We encourage you to participate in our collaborative community by showing off some of your work. We may feature your artwork in the future.
Table of Contents
Studio Cards Related to the Back of the Yards Comic Series Project
02 | Issue #3 Collaborations
03 | Issue #3 Collaborations
Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration
06 | Issue #3 Collaborations
Who is John Golden?
Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration
11 | Issue #3 Collaborations
12 | Issue #3 Collaborations
Beyond the Issue | Bonus Studio Collaboration
08 | Issue #3 Collaborations