The name Five Points refers to the intersections of five streets in lower Manhattan. In the 19th century, it was the first urban neighborhood in North America. For outsiders, the Five Points was a notorious place, controlled by gangs with names like the Plug Uglies and the Dead Rabbits. For residents, it was their universe – work, family, and play combined together in one tough but vibrant neighborhood.
It is to the spirit of unruly exuberance that our name is dedicated; to real life, with all its trials and tribulations, characters and dramas. But our name also symbolizes the potential for transformation, beginning with new ways of seeing and representing the underserved, the misrepresented, and the many untold stories.
