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 “Thousands expected at Melanin Market for Juneteenth festival”
The Jacksonville Melanin Market held its Black History 365 Parade and Celebration on March 3, 2024, along A. Philip Randolph Boulevard on Jacksonville’s Eastside. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 13, 2024

Thousands expected at Melanin Market for Juneteenth festival

The Eastside-based nonprofit will award 15 $1,000 microgrants to businesses that participate.…

Featured image for “Alpha Kappa Alpha has high hopes for scholarship drive”
Rosalyn Mixon Phillips is the chapter president of the Gamma Rho Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She is the leader of Jacksonville-based chapter that has more than 400 members. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 7, 2024

Alpha Kappa Alpha has high hopes for scholarship drive

The Gamma Rho Omega chapter of the predominantly Black sorority will host its largest fundraiser ever on Saturday.…

Featured image for “Waves of Change: Civil rights demonstrators return to St. Augustine”
The St. Johns Cultural Council recognized Purcell Conway and Shed Dawson for their participation in the St. Augustine Beach wade-ins in June 1964. Their efforts to integrate a whites-only beach was part of a series of demonstrations during Freedom Summer. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
June 6, 2024

Waves of Change: Civil rights demonstrators return to St. Augustine

Protesters Shed Dawson and Purcell Conway are honored as a new museum exhibit commemorates wade-ins at a whites-only beach.…

Featured image for “Unbridled Mustang: Mandarin grad hungry to change his hometown”
L.J. Valenzuela will graduate from Mandarin High School with a 4.5 grade point average. He will attend Brown University on a full scholarship in the fall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 30, 2024

Unbridled Mustang: Mandarin grad hungry to change his hometown

L.J. Valenzuela is an activist for LGBTQ rights who loves Jacksonville and plans to return after he earns his degree…

Featured image for “Grit and gain: How Duval Schools looks to curb chronic absenteeism”
The Duval County Public Schools administration building, with a bronze statue of children reading in front of it. | Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today
May 29, 2024

Grit and gain: How Duval Schools looks to curb chronic absenteeism

More than 27% of Duval County Public Schools students have missed at least four weeks of class this academic year.…

Featured image for “Youth entrepreneurship camp geared for Northwest Jax teens”
The Youth Exposure, Inc. board comprises serial entrepreneurs. From left are Nahshon Nicks, Starr Prescott, Aisha Norris and Rick Walker. | Submitted, Dwight Garth, Youth Exposure, Inc.
May 23, 2024

Youth entrepreneurship camp geared for Northwest Jax teens

Youth Exposure Inc. will hold an eight-week camp for children and teens between 10 and 19 years old.…

Featured image for “Northside ‘huddle’ draws cautious optimism about ‘Stadium of the Future’”
Michael Wright listens to a community conversation about the $1.4 billion proposal from the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Jaguars to renovate EverBank Stadium on Thursday, May 16, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 16, 2024

Northside ‘huddle’ draws cautious optimism about ‘Stadium of the Future’

A community investment promise is helping sell the Stadium of the Future proposal, while Northside activists vow to oppose it.…

Featured image for “Eastside homeowners get help on utility bills”
Barbara Robertson has lived on the Eastside for nearly 50 years. She says the Restore, Repair and Resilience program has transformed her home on Jessie Street. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 16, 2024

Eastside homeowners get help on utility bills

JEA and the city of Jacksonville won an $845,000 federal grant to make Eastside homes more energy-efficient.…

Featured image for “Diversity in Aquatics, Duval Schools and city parks partner to spread swimming skills”
Miriam Lynch is executive director of Diversity in Aquatics, a nonprofit that looks to eliminate disparities in pool and aquatic access. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 15, 2024

Diversity in Aquatics, Duval Schools and city parks partner to spread swimming skills

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children on the autism spectrum. And Black and Latino children are more…

Featured image for “PHOTO ESSAY | Edward Waters commencement”
May 12, 2024

PHOTO ESSAY | Edward Waters commencement

Saturday’s Edward Waters University commencement was held Downtown because the HBCU’s gym can no longer fit its graduates.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | What is going on at J.P. Small Park?”
Henry Aaron Field at J.P. Small Ballpark is undergoing a $9.6 million renovation. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 10, 2024

#AskJAXTDY | What is going on at J.P. Small Park?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders why he sees dirt piles and construction equipment at J.P. Small Park.…

Featured image for “Public pools in Duval, Clay, St. Johns set to open Memorial Day weekend”
Children in the Durkeeville neighborhood wade into the waters at the Emmett Reed Swimming Pool on Friday, July 14, 2023.
May 9, 2024

Public pools in Duval, Clay, St. Johns set to open Memorial Day weekend

The unofficial start to summer will jump off with a splash as community pools in Jacksonville, Green Cove Springs and…

Featured image for “DeSantis signs credit union bill in Jacksonville”
Gov. Ron DeSantis came to Jacksonville to sign a bill allowing the state to deposit money in credit unions. | News4Jax
May 2, 2024

DeSantis signs credit union bill in Jacksonville

Jacksonville’s financial services industry could benefit from a bill that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Thursday at VyStar Credit Union headquarters.…

Featured image for “Kamala Harris assails Florida abortion law in Jacksonville”
Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Prime Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville to decry Florida's abortion laws that outlaw the procedure six weeks after conception on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
May 1, 2024

Kamala Harris assails Florida abortion law in Jacksonville

The vice president said the Heatbeat Protection Act, which took effect Wednesday, stripped 4 million women of reproductive freedom.…

Featured image for “New Town residents question Duval Schools on proposed closures and teacher cuts”
Duval County School Board Chair Darryl Willie and interim Superintendent Dana Kriznar attend a community forum hosted by the Jacksonville NAACP at the Beaver Street Enterprise Center in New Town Tuesday. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 30, 2024

New Town residents question Duval Schools on proposed closures and teacher cuts

The Duval School District may need to eliminate up to 700 staff positions.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville welcomes 40 new US citizens”
More than 700 people watched as 40 people became American citizens during a naturalization ceremony Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at First Coast High School. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 30, 2024

Jacksonville welcomes 40 new US citizens

More than 700 people watched as 40 people became American citizens during a naturalization ceremony at First Coast High School.…

Featured image for “Duval school district rebuffs pressure to end relationship with Jacksonville Public Library”
The Dallas Graham Branch of the Jacksonville Public Library is often filled with children from nearby Durkeeville, Grand Park and Moncrief Springs in the afternoon following the end of the school day. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 30, 2024

Duval school district rebuffs pressure to end relationship with Jacksonville Public Library

Amid the national “book ban” conversation, Duval school officials defended a longstanding connection with the Jacksonville Public Library.…

Featured image for “Duval Schools apologizes for errors over arrested teacher”
April 26, 2024

Duval Schools apologizes for errors over arrested teacher

The district acknowledged that a teacher at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts should have been removed his classroom immediately.…

Featured image for “Former Douglas Anderson teacher pleads guilty”
Former Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher Jeffrey Clayton pleaded guilty to four counts on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 24, 2024

Former Douglas Anderson teacher pleads guilty

Jeffrey Clayton admitted to touching a teenage student and uttering romantic feelings about her.…

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.…

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.…

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…

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…

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.…