Will Brown Reporter email

Will Brown is a Report for America corps member focusing on race, poverty and inequality for Jacksonville Today.

He previously reported for the Jacksonville Business Journal. And before that, he spent more than a decade as a sports reporter at The St. Augustine Record, Victoria (Texas) Advocate and the Tallahassee Democrat.

Over his 15-year career, Brown has won awards for breaking news, social media and photography. And in 2020, he contributed photographs for WFSU News/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 has an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University and 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 “PHOTO ESSAY | Jacksonville Alumnae Chapter welcomes first new Deltas in a decade”
March 26, 2024

PHOTO ESSAY | Jacksonville Alumnae Chapter welcomes first new Deltas in a decade

After 10 years, the Jacksonville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta welcomed new members in front of a cross section…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “DeSantis comes to Jacksonville to sign social media limits on kids”
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed shows HB 3, the social media restrictions he signed Monday, March 25, 2024, at Cornerstone Classical Academy in Jacksonville. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 25, 2024

DeSantis comes to Jacksonville to sign social media limits on kids

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB3 at Cornerstone Classical Academy, banning children younger than 14 from having social media accounts.…

By Will Brown and Carter Mudgett

Featured image for “$20k for homebuyers up for grabs under Ameris redlining settlement ”
Ameris Bank mortgage officer Tamonica Mike outlines the Ameris Choice program in front of more than 75 people inside Somerset Academy in the Highlands community during a March 14, 2024 community meeting. Ameris Bank introduced the Ameris Choice program in January as part of a consent order the bank agreed to with the U.S. Department of Justice following the latter's acusation the bank redlined in Black and Hispanic communities in Jacksonville. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 21, 2024

$20k for homebuyers up for grabs under Ameris redlining settlement 

More than 300 Jacksonville area families are going to receive $20,000 apiece as part of a regional bank’s settlement with…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Jacksonville Haitians call for increased attention on their homeland”
Members of Jacksonville's Haitian diaspora called on Northeast Florida Republican congressmen Aaron Bean and John Rutherford to craft legislation that was stem the exportation of weapons to Haiti. From left: Booz Paul, Roudy Duviver, Pologne Moise, Cheryl McCall, Pierre Paul, Sintalie Jean, Ceasar Paul-Murray and Lyned Jana. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 19, 2024

Jacksonville Haitians call for increased attention on their homeland

The Coalition of the Haitian Community in Jacksonville made pleas for state and federal help at a rally Tuesday in…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Community invests in Westside students with new football field”
The Jaguars Foundation, Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation, Carlton Construction and LISC Jacksonville combined to convert the infield of KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools into a football field and track that might become a community beacon. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 13, 2024

Community invests in Westside students with new football field

A new football field and track at KIPP Jacksonville could help students reach for their dreams.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Jacksonville devotes $2 million to help homebuyers with down payments”
City Council member Ju'Coby Pittman applauds a $2 million pilot program that will provide down payment assistance for home buyers in Duval County on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Jacksonville's Talleyrand neighborhood. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 7, 2024

Jacksonville devotes $2 million to help homebuyers with down payments

The city will provide up to $25,000 in down payment assistance to qualified first-time homebuyers. …

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Edward Waters president battles old HBCU perceptions as university grows”
Edward Waters University has been located in Jacksonville's New Town neighborhood since 1904. The university has called Jacksonville home since 1982. | Ben Brown, Special to Jacksonville Today
March 4, 2024

Edward Waters president battles old HBCU perceptions as university grows

For Faison, outdated impressions of Edward Waters are especially irksome as he leads the university through historic firsts.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Deegan forms African American Advisory Board”
Mayor Donna Deegan presents 904Ward Director of Equity Regina Newkirk Rucci a resolution celebrating Black History Month. Deegan announced the creation of an African American Advisory Board on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at City Hall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 28, 2024

Deegan forms African American Advisory Board

The board will enable residents to share information and perspective with Mayor Donna Deegan. Appointments are expected later in the…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Jacksonville works to open more swimming pools this year”
Zay Tucker is a lifeguard at the Emmett Reed Community Pool in Brentwood. He stopped for a photo minutes before the pool opened for the summer in July 2023. Tucker has served as a lifeguard for five years. "I know a lot of people. I like seeing people I know and friends that live over here. It's cool," Tucker said. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 27, 2024

Jacksonville works to open more swimming pools this year

Many Jacksonville pools did not open last summer due to a lack of lifeguards. The city is raising pay this…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Survivors of Klan terror in Murray Hill share their story with Jacksonville leaders 60 years later”
Iona Godfrey King and Donal King speak with Jacksonville City Council President Ron Salem about a bombing that took place in their North Riverside neighborhood in February 1964 on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 25, 2024

Survivors of Klan terror in Murray Hill share their story with Jacksonville leaders 60 years later

Donal Godfrey survived a Ku Klux Klan bombing in Murray Hill at age 6. He shared his story with City…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Enrolling in Duval County Public Schools | JAX TODAY GUIDE 2024”
The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
February 22, 2024

Enrolling in Duval County Public Schools | JAX TODAY GUIDE 2024

If you’re looking to enroll a first-time student in Duval Schools or switch schools for this coming fall, a Feb.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “How to avoid the next school shooting: Duval gets some advice”
Bob Gualtieri is the Pinellas County sheriff. He also served chairman of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission, which was created to investigate the shooting spree that killed 17 staff and students in Parkland in February 2018. | Screenshot, Duval County Public Schools
February 21, 2024

How to avoid the next school shooting: Duval gets some advice

Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chairman of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas commission, said shootings happen most often in places you don’t…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “New trolley stop called a ‘game changer’ for Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center”
Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine will add a trolley stop in front of the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center in February 2024. The move was part of a communitywide effort to embrace St. Augustine's Black history. | Old Town Trolley Tours of St. Augustine
February 19, 2024

New trolley stop called a ‘game changer’ for Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center

Old Town Trolley Tours and Attractions will add a stop at the museum to help St. Augustine promote its historic…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Duval wants to consolidate two gifted schools”
Laura Bowes, an executive director in the Duval County Public Schools Division of Schools, explains to parents and stakeholders at R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy that the district's staff plans to recommend that R.V. Daniels Elementary in Grand Park be merged with R.L. Brown at the end of this academic year. She spoke during a meeting Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 16, 2024

Duval wants to consolidate two gifted schools

School district staff will recommend consolidating R.V. Daniels Elementary School with R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “PHOTO ESSAY | Like Jax, unbeaten Mandarin soccer team is a blend of cultures”
Mandarin celebrates Jose Moreno's 64th minute goal during a FHSAA Class 7A regional quarterfinal. Mandarin eliminated Orlando Boone 2-1 in a FHSAA Class 7A regional quarterfinal on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. The Mustangs (18-0-2) advance to host Lake Mary. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 14, 2024

PHOTO ESSAY | Like Jax, unbeaten Mandarin soccer team is a blend of cultures

The unbeaten Mandarin High Mustangs have players from three continents who speak 10 different languages.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Flag football booming as Jaguars invest in girls sports”
Courtney Brown is a senior flag football player at Stanton College Prep who was named 'most athletic' by her peers in the senior class. She plays flag football and soccer for the Blue Devils. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 9, 2024

Flag football booming as Jaguars invest in girls sports

Every public high school in Duval County fields a flag football team, and Florida is one of seven states with…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Duval parents groups file no objections to textbooks”
The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
February 5, 2024

Duval parents groups file no objections to textbooks

Moms for Liberty and the Public School Defenders both reviewed science and social studies textbooks approved by Duval County Public…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Does it matter that an FDOT secretary doesn’t attend JTA meetings?”
A JTA electric bus.
February 2, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | Does it matter that an FDOT secretary doesn’t attend JTA meetings?

An FDOT secretary sits on the JTA board but has not attended JTA meetings since 2018. A Jacksonville Today reader…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “DeSantis is sending Florida State Guard to southern border”
Gov. Ron DeSantis announces the Florida State Guard will be deployed to the U,S, border with Mexico during an appearance in Jacksonville on Feb. 1, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 1, 2024

DeSantis is sending Florida State Guard to southern border

In an appearance in Jacksonville, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the state will send the Florida State Guard to Texas to…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Graduation rates hit record highs across First Coast”
The late Mary Ella Sams, left, helps Akira Roberson put on her graduation gown on May 23, 2023. Roberson was among 7.052 Duval County Public Schools students who graduated in the 2022-23 academic year. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 24, 2024

Graduation rates hit record highs across First Coast

In Duval County, 87.2% of students graduated in the 2022-23 academic year, the highest percentage in a nonpandemic year.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Fort Mose begins reconstruction of 18th century community”
Fort Mose State Park is the site of the first free African community in what is now the United States. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 19, 2024

Fort Mose begins reconstruction of 18th century community

More than 100 people gathered Friday to break ground on a reconstruction of Fort Mose, the first free African settlement…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Spring Park and Englewood communities seek clarity on school renovations”
Englewood Elementary Principal Hope Tepper speaks with parents during a working group meeting Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, inside the media center at Spring Park Elementary. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 17, 2024

Spring Park and Englewood communities seek clarity on school renovations

Some parents remain concerned about the size of the rebuilt Englewood and Spring Park elementary schools as well as who…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “‘Tomorrow’s Leaders’ highlight reunited MLK breakfast”
Emerly Reed won the Tomorrow's Leaders middle school essay contest. Kemal Gasper, vice president of community engagement for VyStar Credit Union, presented Emerly with a trophy for winning the competition during the 37th annual Martin Luther King breakfast at the Prime Osborn Convention Center on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 12, 2024

‘Tomorrow’s Leaders’ highlight reunited MLK breakfast

Three Jacksonville girls shared their belief that the power of words can evoke peace during the 37th Annual Martin Luther…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Dollar General, site of race-motivated mass shooting, will reopen Friday”
A memorial to Anolt (AJ) Laguerre Jr. stands in front of the Dollar General on Kings Road in Jacksonville's Grand Park community. Laguerre, 19, was one of three people killed by a white supremacist in August 2023. He was an employee at the store. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
January 11, 2024

Dollar General, site of race-motivated mass shooting, will reopen Friday

On Friday, the same morning when Jacksonville leaders will celebrate unity with their Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Downtown, the…

By Will Brown