Will Brown Reporter email
Will joined Jacksonville Today as a Report for America corps member. He previously reported for the Jacksonville Business Journal, The St. Augustine Record, Victoria (Texas) Advocate and the Tallahassee Democrat. He also contributed to WFSU Public Media’s national Murrow Award-winning series “Committed: How and why children became the fastest growing group under Florida’s Baker Act.” Will is a native Floridian who has earned journalism degrees from Florida A&M University and the University of South Florida.
Featured image for “Funding timeline announced for Eastside community benefits agreement”
Marchers participate in a parade as part of the Melanin Market on the Eastside on March 3, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
2 days ago

Funding timeline announced for Eastside community benefits agreement

Applications for the first round of grants are due to the Eastside Grants Committee by Aug. 3.…

Featured image for “Upshot League announces inaugural championship location”
Charlotte Crown guard Jasmyne Roberts, right, backs down Jacksonville Waves forward Rennia Davis during the second half of the Upshot League inaugural game. Roberts scored 13 points off the bench to help Charlotte defeat the Jacksonville Waves 103-95 on May 15, 2026, at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
3 days ago

Upshot League announces inaugural championship location

The top two finishers in the Upshot League’s 2026 regular season will advance to the inaugural championship.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s back-to-school giveaways continue this weekend”
Boeing collaborated with Communities in Schools Jacksonville, as well as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to giveaway backpacks and school supplies to Duval County students on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Students also participated in hands-on STEM activities during the event. | Submitted, Boeing
July 21, 2026

Jacksonville’s back-to-school giveaways continue this weekend

Duval County organizations will provide school supplies across Jacksonville ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.…

Featured image for “Democratic Senate race: Jacksonville progressive Angie Nixon vs. ret. Lt. Col. Alex Vindman”
Alex Vindman (left) and Angie Nixon (right) seek to become the first Democrat from Florida elected to the United States Senate in 14 years. | Submitted
July 20, 2026

Democratic Senate race: Jacksonville progressive Angie Nixon vs. ret. Lt. Col. Alex Vindman

Alex Vindman and Angie Nixon face off in the 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Both hope to unseat Republican…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Alphas provide voter information ahead of August primary”
Duval County Judge Group 13 candidate Marquita H. Green, left, and Duval County School Board, District 4 candidate Rhodesia “Rho” Butler, second from right, speak with members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. following a voter information seminar on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
July 15, 2026

Jacksonville Alphas provide voter information ahead of August primary

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. held a voter education forum to spur turnout ahead of the 2026 election season.…

Featured image for “Are these truths self-evident at America 250? Some Black Jaxsons say no.”
Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Ph. D., narrated a performance of the Ritz Chamber Players’ commemoration of Juneteenth and celebration of Black Music Month on Saturday, June 20, 2026. “Free at Last: The Evolution of the American Spiritual” was a 20-song performance to the music that honed and energized enslaved people. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 30, 2026

Are these truths self-evident at America 250? Some Black Jaxsons say no.

Ahead of America 250, some believe Florida and the U.S. are not living up to the ethos of the country’s…

Featured image for “Jacksonville leaders identify solutions in early childcare gaps”
Students from Kreative Minds Academy received books about a secret seahorse, birds, and a moose and 20 mice as part of a literacy initiative from Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration on Jan. 9, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 26, 2026

Jacksonville leaders identify solutions in early childcare gaps

The Jacksonville Early Learning Task Force suggested several steps to increase childcare access.…

Featured image for “How the Christobel sewer project improves community connections”
U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Jacksonville, says connections between his office, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan's office and the federal Environmental Protection Agency helped secure $6.7 million in funding to remove septic tanks from the Christobel community in Northwest Jacksonville. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 23, 2026

How the Christobel sewer project improves community connections

The Christobel Septic Tank Phase Out Project fulfills a longstanding infrastructure promise to Northwest Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Where to commemorate Juneteenth across Northeast Florida”
The Melanin Market's Juneteenth Celebration, along A. Philip Randolph Blvd. on the Eastside, is one of its largest festivals of the year. | Submitted, Melanin Collaborative Group
June 17, 2026

Where to commemorate Juneteenth across Northeast Florida

Jacksonville and St. Augustine groups will observe the 160th anniversary of the first Juneteenth celebration.…

Featured image for “LaVilla heritage trail is unveiled at Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park”
From left, Jacksonville City Council member Ju'Coby Pittman, Mayor Donna Deegan and urban planner Ennis Davis observe one of the heritage markers that were placed as part of the LaVilla Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing Heritage Trail. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 12, 2026

LaVilla heritage trail is unveiled at Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park

The LaVilla trail features 22 markers that celebrate history and culture within the Downtown Jacksonville community.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s soccer culture grows alongside World Cup return”
Jacksonville's Hodges Stadium has served as the site of U.S. Open Cup matches as well as USL Championship and Gainbridge Super League contests amid the city's post-pandemic commitment to men's and women's professional soccer. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 11, 2026

Jacksonville’s soccer culture grows alongside World Cup return

Jacksonville soccer clubs will host World Cup watch parties Friday as USMNT faces Paraguay in 2026 World Cup.…

Featured image for “How Jacksonville’s skilled trades pros identify workforce solutions”
Josue Salgado, center, received his certification as an operating engineer during the 75th Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association graduation and awards ceremony on Friday, May 29, 2026. Salgado is flanked by Michael Joyner, left, vice president of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 673, and Local 673 Treasurer Andrew Slager. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 5, 2026

How Jacksonville’s skilled trades pros identify workforce solutions

The Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association is among organizations filling Florida’s growing skilled trades shortage.…

Featured image for “City Year Jacksonville invests 100k service hours to support Duval students”
City Year Jacksonville says 56 student success coaches in its 2025-26 cohort devoted an estimated 100,000 service hours at Duval County Public Schools. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 3, 2026

City Year Jacksonville invests 100k service hours to support Duval students

City Year Jacksonville cultivates communication skills, empathy and leadership among young adults.…

Featured image for “PHOTO ESSAY | Englewood High, among Duval’s most diverse, celebrates commencement”
Englewood High awarded 408 diplomas during its 69th Commencement on May 28 inside Jacksonville's VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 31, 2026

PHOTO ESSAY | Englewood High, among Duval’s most diverse, celebrates commencement

Englewood High awarded 408 diplomas during its 69th Commencement on May 28 inside Jacksonville’s VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.…

Featured image for “City Council decides not to rule out redlined neighborhoods for next jail”
Congressional candidate LaShonda Holloway, center, holds a sign outside Jacksonville City Hall on Friday, May 22, 2026, denouncing any plans for a new jail facility in areas that were previously redlined. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 27, 2026

City Council decides not to rule out redlined neighborhoods for next jail

Jacksonville lawmakers voted down a bill recommending that the jail planning process exclude redlined areas of the city.…

Featured image for “Former Ponte Vedra Beach players take deft first touch from soccer pitch to medical field”
Munir Adamo helped the Ponte Vedra boys soccer team finish 25-0-0 in the 2015-16 season. The Sharks became one of the few boys soccer teams in Florida history to finish the season unbeaten and untied. | Will Brown
May 21, 2026

Former Ponte Vedra Beach players take deft first touch from soccer pitch to medical field

Dr. Munir Adamo and Dr. Nikita Kostrubsky helped Ponte Vedra soccer achieve perfection. A decade later, the two have a…

Featured image for “Sporting Jax Women host first Gainbridge Super League semifinal”
Sporting Jax Women are 6-4-4 at Hodges Stadium during its inaugural season in the Gainbridge Super League. Sporting Jax was winless in its first four home matches, but has since earned 20 out of 30 possible points at home. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 20, 2026

Sporting Jax Women host first Gainbridge Super League semifinal

The Sporting Jax Women will host the Carolina Ascent at Hodges Stadium on Sunday.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Waves ride crest of women’s sports investment”
Ribault High alumna Rennia Davis will play a pivotal role for the Jacksonville Waves during their inaugural season in the Upshot League. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 13, 2026

Jacksonville Waves ride crest of women’s sports investment

The Jacksonville Waves will play in the UPSHOT League’s inaugural basketball game on May 15 in Downtown Jacksonville.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville native Alex Monteagudo fathoms his bright college years”
Alex Monteagudo will graduate with a double degree in economics and political science from Yale on Monday, May 18, 2026. Monteagudo is a Jacksonville native who will become a naval submarine officer after graduation. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 13, 2026

Jacksonville native Alex Monteagudo fathoms his bright college years

Alex Monteagudo will earn a degree in economics and political science from Yale during its 325th Commencement on Monday.…

Featured image for “Free care for uninsured at Medical Mission at Home, hosted by Ascension St. Vincent’s”
The Prime Osborn Convention Center hosts Saturday's Medical Mission at Home | Prime Osborn via Facebook
May 6, 2026

Free care for uninsured at Medical Mission at Home, hosted by Ascension St. Vincent’s

Medical Mission at Home is a free event that includes medical exams, diabetic education and information on how to connect…

Featured image for “Jacksonville groups decry Florida’s proposed congressional redistricting”
A voting booth. Some Florida voters may be casting ballots in new congressional districts if maps proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis are enacted.
April 28, 2026

Jacksonville groups decry Florida’s proposed congressional redistricting

Voting rights advocates say politics are behind a redistricting map proposed this week by Gov. Ron DeSantis.…

Featured image for “Florida outlaws diversity, equity and inclusion in public policy”
Gov. Ron DeSantis tosses a pen to a member of the audience after signing a bill that will outlaw diversity, equity and inclusion in local governments on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. DeSantis is joined by members of the Florida Legislature who supported the bill, from left, Rep. Kiyan Michael, R-Jacksonville; Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville; Sen. Clay Yarborough R-Jacksonville; and Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 22, 2026

Florida outlaws diversity, equity and inclusion in public policy

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Wednesday in Jacksonville that prohibits DEI in local governments.…

Featured image for “How Duval Schools remains mindful of minority mental health”
The 2026 Student Mental Health Conference gave nearly 500 Duval County Public Schools students a chance to share specificity about their mental health programming needs. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 21, 2026

How Duval Schools remains mindful of minority mental health

The district’s 2026 Student Mental Health Conference enabled students to get specific about their needs.…

Featured image for “DeSantis’ office devotes millions to Northwest Jax job training programs, Boys & Girls Clubs”
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, state Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, and Jacksonville City Council Member Ju'Coby Pittman announce a $3 million investment in job training programs in Northwest Jacksonville on Thursday, April 16, 2026, near a memorial to the victims of a race-motivated shooting at a Dollar General in Grand Park. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 16, 2026

DeSantis’ office devotes millions to Northwest Jax job training programs, Boys & Girls Clubs

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office devoted $3 million to Northwest Jacksonville training programs that will provide skills for trades and medical…