The Five Points Plaza + Trade Street project is a remarkable endeavor that seamlessly weaves together community engagement, collaboration, and extensive research to create two captivating public art pieces commissioned by the City of Charlotte. Situated in the Historic West End neighborhood, these art installations, collectively known as the Excelsior Collection, pay homage to the revered Excelsior Club, a cherished landmark deeply rooted in the African American community and the Historic West End. Embodying the spirit of progress and upliftment, the individual pieces within the collection, titled “Ever Upward” and “Even Higher,” embrace the Latin definitions of Excelsior, signifying perpetual growth and ascent.