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 “Nonprofit may hold key to Duval literacy gaps”
READ USA Chief Executive Rob Kelly says tutoring by the literacy nonprofit has improved reading comprehension and literacy among students at seven Duval County public schools. Interim Superintendent Dana Kriznar, left, and School Board members Warren Jones and April Carney joined him at a news conference Monday, April 22, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 23, 2024

Nonprofit may hold key to Duval literacy gaps

Students have improved their reading accuracy and comprehension after tutoring from READ USA, a literacy group based in Jacksonville.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Six semifinalists picked for Duval Schools superintendent”
The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
April 23, 2024

Six semifinalists picked for Duval Schools superintendent

Five men and one woman are semifinalists for superintendent of Duval County Public Schools.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “St. Augustine in driver’s seat for Black history museum”
St. Johns County leaders have identified a West Augustine site, near the former location of Florida Memorial College, as a potential home for a Florida Museum of Black History. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 19, 2024

St. Augustine in driver’s seat for Black history museum

The Florida Museum of Black History Task Force named St. Augustine as one of its top three locations to house…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Duval parents plead to keep their schools open”
Longtime Atlantic Beach resident Carolyn Zisser brought Diane Ravitch's book "Slaying Goliath" with her to address the Duval County School Board on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Zisser was among nearly a dozen people who implored the board to keep Atlantic Beach Elementary open. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 16, 2024

Duval parents plead to keep their schools open

Nearly a dozen parents spoke to the School Board on Tuesday, but school officials stressed again that no decisions are…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Education chief visits Raines to tout Bright Futures scholarships”
Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. spoke with freshmen and sophomores at Raines High School on Friday, April 12, 2024, about opportunities through the state's Bright Futures Scholarship Program. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 15, 2024

Education chief visits Raines to tout Bright Futures scholarships

Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. wants to ensure that students know their options for attending college.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Cummer and The Links bring arts to Northwest Jax students”
Tiger Academy students produced drawings and other artworks this year following a November 2023 field trip to The Cmmer Museum of Art & Gardens in November 2023. | Submitted
April 12, 2024

Cummer and The Links bring arts to Northwest Jax students

Art can help people overcome emotions they do not realize are present. That was one of the motivations of staff…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Muslims in Jacksonville celebrate end of Ramadan”
Imam Bilal Malik leads an Eid al-Fitr prayer. An estimated 7,000 people gathered inside Dream Finders Homes Flex Field at Daily’s Place for an Eid al-Fitr celebration on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 10, 2024

Muslims in Jacksonville celebrate end of Ramadan

More than 7,000 people gathered inside the Dream Finders Homes Flex Field at Daily’s Place for an Eid al-Fitr celebration.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “JTA proving to be an alternative to school buses”
A JTA electric bus.
April 8, 2024

JTA proving to be an alternative to school buses

The My Ride to School program has exceeded expections as Duval Schools wrestles with transportation costs.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “A.L. Lewis fund sparks Black philanthropy with first grants”
Rebecca Williams is the CEO of Fruit of Barren Trees Pipeline Inc. The nonprofit strives to erect affordable housing in the Moncrief Springs community in Northwest Jacksonville. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 4, 2024

A.L. Lewis fund sparks Black philanthropy with first grants

The A.L. Lewis Black Opportunity & Impact fund announced grants toward health, education and economic development in predominantly Black neighborhoods.…

By Will Brown

Featured image for “Duval consolidates 2 elementary schools, but gives parents extra year to prepare”
R.V. Daniels has served students in the Grand Park neighborhood since 1964. The Duval County Public Schools board moved to close the school following the 2024-25 academic year. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 2, 2024

Duval consolidates 2 elementary schools, but gives parents extra year to prepare

R.V. Daniels Elementary in Northwest Jacksonville will be consolidated with R.L. Brown Gifted and Talented Academy after the 2024-25 school…

By Will Brown and Carter Mudgett

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