Will Brown Reporter email
Will Brown is a reporter and photographer focusing on issues related to race and inequality, as well as sports and photography. He originally joined Jacksonville Today as a Report for America corps member. Will previously reported for the Jacksonville Business Journal, The St. Augustine Record, Victoria (Texas) Advocate and the Tallahassee Democrat. His accolades over his nearly 20-year career include photography for the Health News Florida’s national Murrow Award-winning series “Committed: How and Why Children Became the Fastest Growing Group Under Florida’s Baker Act.” Brown is a graduate of Florida A&M University and has a master’s from the University of South Florida. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and soccer. He lives in Clay County with his wife and son.
Featured image for “BIT OF JOY | Martin Luther King Day parade”
Debra Joshua marches in the 45th Martin Luther King Jr. Grand Parade through Downtown Jacksonville on Monday. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
3 hours ago

BIT OF JOY | Martin Luther King Day parade

Jacksonville honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with the annual breakfast and parade through Downtown.…

Featured image for “ICE action sparks tension in Jacksonville”
Hundreds of demonsrators march through Downtown Jacksonville on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, to protest the death of Minneapolis woman Renee Good at the hand of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official in Minnesota. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 15, 2026

ICE action sparks tension in Jacksonville

Tensions over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement rose: a Jacksonville city official was suspended for an ICE-related social media post;…

Featured image for “Duval Schools students earn another graduation record”
Dyz'Jhae Davis and Westside High principal Vincent Foster are all smiles after Davis received her Certified Nursing Assistant pin during a ceremony May 6, 2025. The 16 Westside students are the first to graduate with both a diploma and a CNA certification from the school's medical magnet program. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 14, 2026

Duval Schools students earn another graduation record

The graduation rate for Duval Schools in 2025 set a district record for the second consecutive year.…

Featured image for “Mayors Deegan and Peyton empower Garden City preschoolers with books”
Mayor Donna Deegan, center, speaks with students at Kreative Minds Academy in Jacksonville's Garden City neighborhood before awarding books as part of a literacy initiative funded by a $1 million gift from the Gate Foundation. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 9, 2026

Mayors Deegan and Peyton empower Garden City preschoolers with books

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and former Mayor John Peyton provided books at Kreative Minds Academy on Friday.…

Featured image for “Jaguars’ playoff game may draw $10M in local impact”
The Jacksonville Jaguars won the AFC South title after a 41-7 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. The Jaguars (13-4) closed the regular season with eight straight wins. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 8, 2026

Jaguars’ playoff game may draw $10M in local impact

The Jaguars will take on the Buffalo Bills, whose fans tend to travel in large numbers to away games.…

Featured image for “In Jacksonville, mixed reaction after US removes Maduro ”
Members of the Freedom Roads Socialist Organization, Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, Take ‘Em Down Jax and the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance spoke out against the United States government removing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a Jan. 3, 2026 rally outside of Sen. Rick Scott's office at the Charles Bennett Federal Building in downtown Jacksonville. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 4, 2026

In Jacksonville, mixed reaction after US removes Maduro 

Jacksonville witnessed demonstrations and political support following the U.S. military’s removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.…

Featured image for “Sandalwood grad Antonio Clary caps off collegiate career with Gator Bowl win”
Jacksonville native Antonio Clary celebrates Virginia's win in the 81st TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, at EverBank Stadium. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 29, 2025

Sandalwood grad Antonio Clary caps off collegiate career with Gator Bowl win

The Jacksonville native helped the University of Virginia win the 2025 Gator Bowl in his final collegiate game.…

Featured image for “PHOTO ESSAY | Will Brown’s favorite images of 2025”
Raines football coach Donovan Masline receives a key to the City of Jacksonville during a Dec. 18, 2025 celebration at Raines High School. The Vikings went 14-0 and claimed the FHSAA Class 3A championship with a 23-22 win over Miami Northwestern. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 22, 2025

PHOTO ESSAY | Will Brown’s favorite images of 2025

Jacksonville Today’s Will Brown shares his favorite photos from Jacksonville in 2025.…

Featured image for “PHOTO ESSAY | Raines football celebrated in Northwest Jacksonville”
Raines freshmen Ameer Mabane, left and Nicholas Davis, right, celebrate the team's 14-0 season during a community parade. Jacksonville celebrated the Raines Vikings winning the FHSAA Class 3A state football championship with a community parade on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 20, 2025

PHOTO ESSAY | Raines football celebrated in Northwest Jacksonville

The Raines Vikings marched down Moncrief Road with their hard-fought state championship trophy during a community parade on Saturday.…

Featured image for “Raines football champions celebrated with pep rally and parade”
Raines football players are all smiles during a school pep rally to celebrate the undefeated Vikings on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 19, 2025

Raines football champions celebrated with pep rally and parade

A parade to honor the William M. Raines football program will begin at Lonnie Miller Park at 9 a.m. Saturday.…

Featured image for “Raines snags state football title with last-minute thriller”
The Raines football team huddles after their 28-8 win over Sarasota Booker in a FHSAA Class 3A state semifinal on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. The Vikings (13-0) advanced to the seventh state final in program history. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 13, 2025

Raines snags state football title with last-minute thriller

Raines High School won its fourth state title with a 23-22 win over Miami Northwestern on Friday evening.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp sold to Prospector Baseball Group”
Ken Babby, pictured in 2023, owned the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for 10 years. He purchased the club from Peter Bragan. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 9, 2025

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp sold to Prospector Baseball Group

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp were purchased by Prospector Baseball Group. This is Prospector’s first purchase of an affiliated baseball club.…

Featured image for “Baptist Health identifies food insecurity as community health challenge”
Feeding Northeast Florida received a $250,000 donation from Baptist Health to combat food insecurity in the region. The food distribution nonprofit says the money will fund 215,000 meals. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 8, 2025

Baptist Health identifies food insecurity as community health challenge

Baptist Health will fund 215,000 meals across its five-county service area as part of its commitment to eradicate food insecurity.…

Featured image for “Eye surgeon envisions more medical tourism in Jacksonville”
Dr. Arun Gulani is a Jacksonville ophthalmologist who has served people from nearly 100 countries. He says the region's medical tourism industry is ripe for growth. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 4, 2025

Eye surgeon envisions more medical tourism in Jacksonville

Dr. Arun Gulani has served people from nearly 100 countries and believes medical tourism can benefit the region.…

Featured image for “Past, present, proposed: How Duval school closures have created community skepticism”
R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy has operated on the Eastside since 1953. The Duval County School Board will hear a proposal to close Long Branch Elementary and merge it with R.L. Brown during its meeting Dec. 1, 2025. | Will Brown
November 21, 2025

Past, present, proposed: How Duval school closures have created community skepticism

Duval school closures will considered on the Eastside and in Mayport during a School Board meeting Dec. 1.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s Divine Nine approach century of service”
Andrea Williams has been a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. since 2003. She serves as the president of the Beta Alpha Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 13, 2025

Jacksonville’s Divine Nine approach century of service

The Divine Nine organizations have more than 725 years of service, scholarship and fellowship in Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville City Council to consider 2 bills for SNAP funding”
Feeding Northeast Florida serves 12 counties across Northeast Florida. Its CEO, Susan King, says fear and uncertainty caused by the federal expiration of SNAP benefits has led to a surge in demand. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 11, 2025

Jacksonville City Council to consider 2 bills for SNAP funding

The bills would provide financial support to Feeding Northeast Florida after cuts to federal SNAP benefits.…

Featured image for “Jax City Council to consider emergency aid as food banks see surge in demand”
People line up for a food distribution at Calvary Baptist Church on Dunn Avenue on Nov. 5. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 9, 2025

Jax City Council to consider emergency aid as food banks see surge in demand

The Jacksonville City Council is expected to consider emergency legislation this week that would devote local dollars to help fill…

Featured image for “Jaxsons face food decisions amid SNAP reductions”
Georgia Patrick says food distribution drives like the one that took place at Calvary Baptist Church on Dunn Avenue on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, will allow her family to eat this month. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 5, 2025

Jaxsons face food decisions amid SNAP reductions

The Duval Care Coalition connects people affected by SNAP reductions with organizations that provide food.…

Featured image for “Wolfson granted millions of dollars to fight pediatric cancer”
Mark Toney, vice president for medical affairs at Wolfson Children's Hospital, discusses the impact of $37.5 million in state funding for cancer research. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 3, 2025

Wolfson granted millions of dollars to fight pediatric cancer

Wolfson Children’s Hospital is one of four health care facilities to earn state grants for pediatric cancer research.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville farmers markets brace for SNAP uncertainty”
Eartha's Farm and Market held its first farmer's market on Nov. 11, 2023, in the Moncrief Springs community. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 30, 2025

Jacksonville farmers markets brace for SNAP uncertainty

More than 152,000 people in Duval County use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.…

Featured image for “New nonprofit would mete out Eastside community benefits funds”
Eartha M.M. White Park in Oakland on the city's Eastside | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 22, 2025

New nonprofit would mete out Eastside community benefits funds

The nonprofit would manage the $40 million in public funds the Eastside will receive under the stadium community benefits agreement.…

Featured image for “Saralyn Grass dismissed as CEO of Kids Hope Alliance”
Kids Hope Alliance CEO Saralyn Grass served as a local celebrity during the 2025 I'm A Star Foundation Celebrity Basketball Classic. The game raised money for unhoused students in Duval County on July 26, 2025, at Riverside High School. |Photo by Will Brown
October 22, 2025

Saralyn Grass dismissed as CEO of Kids Hope Alliance

Grass had faced questions about whether her private consulting business conflicted with the Kids Hope Alliance.…

Featured image for “Eastside benefits agreement structure set for City Hall vote”
Jacksonville City Council members Ron Salem, Raul Arias and Jimmy Peluso are members of the city of Jacksonville’s Special Committee on the Community Benefits Agreement 2.0, which will determine the governance structure of the city's $40 million investment in the Eastside. A town hall meeting about Eastside Community Benefits Agreement funding featured bickering and disagreement among Eastside residents and members of the Jacksonville City Council on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville
October 20, 2025

Eastside benefits agreement structure set for City Hall vote

Eastside investment through Jacksonville’s Community Benefits Agreement funding will be considered in an on Oct. 22 meeting at City Hall.…