On Thursday evening, at Circomedia in Portland Square, near Cabot Circus, an ordinarily unremarkable event took place.

But we are not living in ordinary times, and because of that, the fact the event took place at all, has huge potential for the Muslim communities of Bristol.

The free-entry public event was entitled Spittin' Light; Healing the Hood, featuring some of urban music's most powerful voices, a diverse range of artists from the US, the UK and local talent from here in Bristol.

The artists used the medium of rap, spoken word and hip-hop, collectively to inspire young people to become Muslim voices for urban renewal.

For the artists, and for the young audience, "the street" is where real life happens and change begins. For them, "the street" is a place of energy, creativity, and community.

As a 40-year-old, I'll be honest, I did struggle with some of the slang, some of the street language, but it was not an event aimed at the likes of me. It was for the young Muslims, and their friends. I was there, because the young organisers of the event invited me to address the audience.

I stayed for the whole event. Some of the poetry was incredibly moving, deeply exhilarating and certainly inspirational. The messages were of hope, not hate; for life without violence and anger; for action against injustice. It was sincere, it was honest, and it was simple.

The young people understood it all. They clearly related to it easily. They cheered in all the right places, at all the right times.

So what was so remarkable about the event? Much has been made of the Muslim communities not being able to reach out to the young. It's true. I now know why.

The event was organised by a Bristol young Muslim girls group called Waasila, meaning "trusted friend" in Arabic. The Post has reported on them before. They were supported by the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society (BMCS). What the young people do not know, is that the BMCS came under extraordinarily severe pressure from local religious leaders to cancel the event. There was fear that event would have a "corrupting" influence on young Muslims.

For 50-plus years, the Muslim communities have been in Bristol. Despite all the strategies we have used, the number of young Muslims becoming disenfranchised, disengaged, and alienated, has only increased. It is time for a new way of thinking.

Muslim community leaders have never taken the time to ask young Muslims what is important to them, what they want, how they would resolve some of the challenges facing the Muslim communities. We have assumed we know. We do not.

In trusting young people to do it for themselves, the BMCS has shown the way forward.

On Thursday evening, a school night, 200 young Muslims aged 13 to 19 filled the Circomedia venue to capacity.

No organisation, Muslim or non-Muslim, has been able to capture the imagination of that many young Muslims, to gather under one roof to hear Muslim messages of hope, aimed specifically at them. It was an extraordinary achievement; all of it due to an extraordinary group of young Muslim girls.

It is time to trust our young people. They bring with them hope for our future.