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 “St. Augustine and Amelia Island vie for state’s 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
January 10, 2024

St. Augustine and Amelia Island vie for state’s Black history museum

An eight-member task force will meet Friday as it seeks to select a location for the Florida Museum of Black…

Featured image for “Public gets a chance to review proposed Duval textbooks”
January 9, 2024

Public gets a chance to review proposed Duval textbooks

The School Board voted to buy new social studies and science textbooks, starting a 30-day review period for parents and…

Featured image for “Soccer programs kick off season of giving in Holiday Cup”
Nease midfielder Austin Mills is introduced prior to the 2023 Holiday Cup. Nease High School hosted the third annual Holiday Cup, a four-team doubleheader aimed at raising dollars and donations for charities in Northeast Florida. (Will Borwn, Official Florida FC
December 28, 2023

Soccer programs kick off season of giving in Holiday Cup

The Nease, Creekside, Mandarin and Bishop Kenny soccer teams raised more than $2,500 in this year’s Holiday Cup for Ronald…

Featured image for “Confederate monument removed, but debate persists”
The statue of a mother and child honoring "The Women of our Southland 1861-1865" hangs from a crane Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, after its removal from a monument in Springfield Park. | Dan Scanlan, WJCT News 89.9
December 27, 2023

Confederate monument removed, but debate persists

In an interview with Jacksonville Today, Mayor Donna Deegan said she hopes the monument’s removal is just one step in…

Featured image for “PHOTO ESSAY | Jacksonville 2023 in 23 images”
The Jaguars overcame a 27-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 in the AFC wild card playoffs on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 21, 2023

PHOTO ESSAY | Jacksonville 2023 in 23 images

Jacksonville Today reporter Will Brown shares 23 of his favorite images from 2023.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville civil rights patriarch Lloyd Pearson dies at 102”
Jacksonville civil rights icon Lloyd Pearson reflected on his 102 years during a December 6, 2023 conversation with Jacksonville Today.
December 18, 2023

Jacksonville civil rights patriarch Lloyd Pearson dies at 102

Lloyd Pearson Jr., the grand old man of Jacksonville’s civil rights struggle, died Sunday afternoon. He was 102.…

Featured image for “Housing planned alongside Rosa Parks Transit Station in Downtown Jax”
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority board is discussing a mixed-use development next to the Rosa Parks Skyway station. | Jacksonville Transportation Authority
December 14, 2023

Housing planned alongside Rosa Parks Transit Station in Downtown Jax

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is discussing a development combining housing, retail and a grocery store.…

Featured image for “New grades set baseline for schools; St. Johns ranks 2nd in Florida”
December 13, 2023

New grades set baseline for schools; St. Johns ranks 2nd in Florida

Though the two scores are not apples-to-apples comparisons, all five Northeast Florida school districts earned the same grade they had…

Featured image for “New soccer club reveals its crest and name: Sporting Jax”
Ricky Caplan, Becky Burleigh, Fred Taylor and Tim Tebow are part of the group that aims to bring women's and men's professional soccer to Northeast Florida. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 12, 2023

New soccer club reveals its crest and name: Sporting Jax

Sporting Club Jacksonville is preparing to play in the United Soccer League later this decade. The location of its stadium…

Featured image for “Teamsters rally in Jacksonville in negotiations with Anheuser-Busch”
Sean O'Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, addresses members outside an Anheuser-Busch facility in Jacksonville. More than 400 Teamsters work at the Jacksonville brewery. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 8, 2023

Teamsters rally in Jacksonville in negotiations with Anheuser-Busch

More than 100 people attended a Teamsters rally organized ahead of the union’s negotiations with Anheuser-Busch InBev.…

Featured image for “Families in Dollar General massacre sue retailer and shooter’s parents”
Quan Laguerre, left, and Anolt Laguerre Sr. shared how Dollar General shooting victim Anolt "A.J." Laguerre Jr. was an optimistic and quiet young man who enjoyed video games. Laguerre, 19, was one of three people killed in the Dollar General massacre in Jacksonville's Grand Park neighborhood on Aug. 26, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2023

Families in Dollar General massacre sue retailer and shooter’s parents

Dollar General failed to provide adequate security to protect the public and customers in Jacksonville, the suit alleges.…

Featured image for “Jags’ cleats put Wounded Warrior Project in spotlight”
Jaguars offensive tackle Walker Little will wear cleats supporting the Wounded Warrior Project in the team's contest against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football | Jacksonville Jaguars
December 4, 2023

Jags’ cleats put Wounded Warrior Project in spotlight

Jacksonville Jaguars players Walker Little and Seth Jones will wear cleats featuring Wounded Warrior Project during Monday Night Football.…

Featured image for “1 Foxy Lady: Springfield eatery earns first Blue Zones approval”
The menu at One Foxy Lady Cafe features a vegan sandwich, breakfast gyro, grits and vegan sausage combination as well as an anti-inflammatory drink. The dishes were created by Jacksonville native Shandon Benjamin Fox. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 29, 2023

1 Foxy Lady: Springfield eatery earns first Blue Zones approval

1 Foxy Lady is the first restaurant approved by Blue Zones Jacksonville, an organization that fosters healthy lifestyles in five…

Featured image for “Jacksonville family buys English soccer club Carlisle United”
The Piatak family attended a Carlisle United match against Derby County at Brunton Park earlier this year. From left are Tom II, Alice Piatak, Tom Piatak Sr., Patty Piatak, Jenna Piatak and her fiance, Nick DeMasi | Barbara Abbott, contributed by Piatak family
November 27, 2023

Jacksonville family buys English soccer club Carlisle United

Castle Sports Group has acquired Carlisle United Football Club, which competes in League One of the English Football League.…

Featured image for “Native Jaxson returns to open coffee shop near his roots”
Leo Baker celebrates the grand opening of Vantage Point Coffee Co. on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. His wife, Jennifer, left, and son Malachai, second from left, help cut the ribbon alongside the company's four employees. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 21, 2023

Native Jaxson returns to open coffee shop near his roots

Leo Baker, owner of Vantage Point Coffee Co., appreciates the chance to give back to the community where he grew…

Featured image for “Eartha’s Farm & Market brings agribusiness to Northwest Jacksonville”
Eartha's Farm and Market held its first farmer's market on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in the Moncrief Springs community. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 17, 2023

Eartha’s Farm & Market brings agribusiness to Northwest Jacksonville

The 10-acre urban farm in Moncrief Springs is expected to help fill a need for fresh fruit and vegetables on…

Featured image for “United Way invests $10 million for affordable housing”
Phyllis Brown reviews information about the North Riverside CDC Home Repair program during a community meeting April 20, 2023. Brown has lived in North Riverside for decades. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 15, 2023

United Way invests $10 million for affordable housing

The organization will devote part of the money to North Riverside and the Eastside, two predominantly Black neighborhoods that have…

Featured image for “JEA expects to raise electric rates in April”
JEA Managing Director and CEO Jay Stowe speaks following a Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
November 7, 2023

JEA expects to raise electric rates in April

JEA plans to increase electric rates for both its residential and commercial customers this spring. Without the proposed 3.5% increase,…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Armada will join new league, play in new stadium”
The Jacksonville Armada defeated Miami United FC in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Hodges Stadium. (Photo by Will Brown, Official Florida FC)
November 3, 2023

Jacksonville Armada will join new league, play in new stadium

The Jacksonville Armada will join the MLS Next Pro league in time for the 2025 season, and the club will…

Featured image for “When DeSantis says ‘woke,’ some in Jacksonville hear ‘Black’”
Gov. Ron DeSantis has said Florida is a place where woke goes to die. In Jacksonville, some pastors and civil rights groups, consider anti-woke as a euphemism for anti-Black. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 31, 2023

When DeSantis says ‘woke,’ some in Jacksonville hear ‘Black’

As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns for president on a platform of “anti-wokeness,” pastors and civil rights activists in Jacksonville…

Featured image for “Emerald Trail agreement pushes project forward”
Groundwork Jacksonville CEO Kay Ehas speaks at an Emerald Trail event. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 26, 2023

Emerald Trail agreement pushes project forward

The city of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and Groundwork Jacksonville are collaborating on the project.…

Featured image for “Ameris Bank cited for blocking Black and Hispanic borrowers in Jacksonville”
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland visited Jacksonville on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 19, 2023

Ameris Bank cited for blocking Black and Hispanic borrowers in Jacksonville

The U.S. Justice Department says the bank denied or discouraged home loan applications in mostly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods.…

Featured image for “Duval School Board suspends superintendent search”
Duval County School Board Chair Kelly Coker discusses the board's decision to suspend its superintendent search on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 18, 2023

Duval School Board suspends superintendent search

The School Board said it was disappointed that only 10 people applied for the position. The search will resume later.…

Featured image for “Introducing the applicants for Duval schools superintendent”
Duval County School Board member Darryl Willie reviews the qualifications for superintendent that the board will consider this fall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
October 17, 2023

Introducing the applicants for Duval schools superintendent

Here’s a rundown on the 10 candidates for Duval County Schools superintendent. The School Board will consider them Wednesday.…