Bryn Thomas was new to the Island and looking for a positive space to express her love for singing and the arts.She stumbled upon Chewstick’s monthly youth open-mic jam sessions after a chance encounter with the organisation’s founder Gavin Smith.“The connections you make are amazing because you meet people from around the world who are where you want to be,” the 17-year-old American said. “I met a producer who worked with Jay-Z because Gavin had his number and put me in contact with him.“I also got to met Aaron Fresh, who’s an R&B singer and producer who came to Chewstick to visit a while back.”Bryn is just one of the young people who regularly take part in TWIGS, a monthly open-mic session for under 18s at Chewstick Neo-Griot Lounge on Court Street.Other regulars include Grace Edwards, Javoni Dowling-Swan, Kalaeb Tannock and Jahroy Richards.Grace said the programme is a place where people can express their feelings.She said: “What I’ve found is TWIGS has become a safe haven where anyone can come in, free up and be themselves.”The 19-year-old was pleasantly surprised on her first visit to an open mic session a few years back.“The whole vibe was pretty cool and everyone had something different to put out there, whether it was from poetry to storytelling, singing or rapping, it was a variety of things to see and do,” she said.Taking part in the programme has helped her to better appreciate the arts, she added.It’s also challenged her to step out of her own comfort zone with her poetry, and spoken word performances.Grace will perform as part of an International Women’s Day celebration held by the Bermuda Public Services Union tomorrow.TWIGS — which stands for True Wisdom in Growing Souls — is meant to empower Bermuda’s young artists to take ownership of their talents and give them a positive space to grow and connect with each other.The open-mic sessions take place on the second Saturday of every month and are open to everyone under age 18. Adults can attend if accompanied by a young person.Kalaeb, 16, said the open mic sessions have pushed him to push his talents to greater levels.He said: “I remember the first TWIGS I went to and the place was packed and I thought ‘I should really be on top of my game in poetry if it’s going to be like this’ so I got more hyped in my poems and more dramatic in some of them.“And when I got on stage I was just staring at these people and amazed by how creative they are. That pushed me way out of my boundaries.”The young people encouraged others their age to come and test out the waters at the monthly events.Bryn believed it was a good way to vent frustrations and communicate one’s feelings in a positive space.“Some people have anger built up and go off and create violence, but those who have anger at Chewstick will go off and write a song because they are giving off that energy to something positive in the community,” she said.Added Grace: “You don’t have to appreciate the arts, but at the same time if you want something to do and a place to chill on a Saturday night this is the best thing. Come to Chewstick, come chill and watch others perform.”TWIGS is free for under-18s and $5 for adults. Interested performers are encouraged to get there early.Sessions take place at 6pm, this Saturday; April 13, May 11 and every second Saturday of the month after that.For more information call 292-2439 or e-mail info@chewstick.org.Useful website: www.chewstick.org