Hopkins talent takes the stage to raise money for United Way

"Hopkins' got soul," was the sentiment expressed by Alicia Wilson, Johns Hopkins vice president for economic development and community partnerships and co-chair of the university's 2022 United Way campaign, before announcing the winners at Sunday night's Hopkins' Got Talent fundraiser.

The enthusiasm and charisma from each contestant were front and center during the evening, and the audience—both virtual and in East Baltimore's Turner Auditorium—was open and ready to receive them. The evening raised $1,259 for the campaign, bringing the event's overall total since its 2017 launch to $15,259 to support communities across the city.

Talent show producer Arnetta Shelton, senior manager of Community Initiatives and Strategies, opened the showcase with a powerful rendition of Fantasia's I Believe, getting the audience ready for a dynamic evening of entertainment that included singing, guitar playing, dancing, and poetry.

The night was filled with cheer as the Johns Hopkins contestants took the stage, with the judges selecting three top performers—singer "Matt Sinatra" (Matthew Williams), Arrow and the Dancing Nurses (Arrow Bolus-Peralta, Erna Gonzalez, and Aissa Encomienda), and JHU Eclectics, a student dance group. The audience then chose the winner via text to a voting system.

The winning performance came from Arrow and the Dancing Nurses, a trio of Bayview nurses who received not only the $500 cash prize for the competition but also an Xbox S Series and 2 controllers for raising the most funds in ticket sales for the event.

A guest performance by the Dynamic Force Dance Co., a local dance group for youth ages 4 and up, closed the showcase and received a donation of $1,000 from Wilson to support the program's mission of pairing instruction with mentorship.

The university's 2022 United Way campaign continues through Friday, Dec. 16. Donations can be made here.