CBC Manitoba has announced the recipients of its 2025 Future 40 recognition, an annual award that celebrates individuals under the age of 40 who are contributing to the
province in diverse and impactful ways.

Shakerah Jones Hall, an instructor in the U of M’s college of nursing, was named as one of the eight awardees recognized for their leadership, community impact and commitment to positive change in Manitoba.

Hall said being named in the Future 40 is “incredibly humbling and deeply meaningful.”

“It affirms that work rooted in equity, mentorship and community-building matters,” she said. “I view this recognition as a reflection of the students, families and communities who inspire this work every day.”

Hall serves in multiple capacities at the U of M. She is the faculty mentor for the university’s fellows in the Equity, Anti-Oppression and Social Justice Program as well as the founder and lead of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA) — U of M Chapter, formerly known as the Black and Racialized Nursing Student Support Group.

Hall said her work is “grounded in advancing equity, supporting student success and transforming nursing education to better serve Manitoba’s increasingly diverse communities.”

Hall’s path toward founding a CBNA chapter at the U of M emerged directly from her experiences as a faculty member in nursing education.

“As I watched students fail courses, repeat clinical placements or leave the program altogether, I felt a deep sense of responsibility to act,” she said.

Without what she described as “a clear blueprint,” Hall developed a proposal and brought it to then-dean of nursing, Dr. Netha Dyck. The proposal was approved, marking the beginning of the U of M’s chapter of CBNA.

Hall said her lived experience as “a Black, racialized immigrant woman” informs her work. “I see myself reflected in many of these students,” she said. “I understand how powerful it is to see people who look like you and who share similar experiences in leadership roles.”

She described her approach to teaching as extending beyond clinical instruction.

“While I teach clinical skills and nursing knowledge, I also teach confidence, advocacy, professionalism and self-worth,” she said.

Hall said she hopes her work will contribute to improved retention and success for Black and racialized nursing students, while also supporting Manitoba’s healthcare system.

The CBC Future 40 recognition, for Hall, serves as both affirmation and motivation.

“[It is] motivation to continue building systems that support a more just and equitable future for Manitoba,” she said.