Lanice Wilson earned a master’s degree in Education from Wilmington University, but her goal wasn’t to work in a traditional classroom. “I have this affinity for mentorship,” she says. “I have this affinity for coaching.”
That instinct has shaped nearly every facet of her career. At The Juice Joint 2.0 — her business in The Nest at the University of Delaware’s Morris Library — Wilson uses conversations at the counter to explain the benefits of whole-food ingredients and healthy eating.
Through POUR, a Delaware Urban Greens program she developed in collaboration with the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, Wilson brings nourishing food, mindfulness activities and wellness breaks to educators in Wilmington schools.
For Wilson, chance encounters offered opportunities to teach. Once, when two women asked for free cups at The Juice Joint 2.0, she explained diplomatically that even small supplies carry a cost for independent businesses — before handing them the cups.
Her instinct to guide others developed long before she became an entrepreneur. Born and raised in the Bronx, she moved to Delaware more than two decades ago with an associate degree, ambition and a determination to continue her education.
Wilson knew a bachelor’s degree would help her advance in corporate marketing. As a working single parent, she needed a program that fit her schedule, and WilmU’s night, weekend and accelerated courses gave her the flexibility to continue her education.
At WilmU, she found the support she needed to succeed.
“If I didn’t understand something, I wasn’t afraid to ask questions,” she says. “I always felt like that was encouraged.”
After earning a bachelor’s in General Studies, she returned to pursue graduate work.
Her interest in juicing began while visiting her daughter in California. Back in Delaware, she began making juices for friends and family. She decided to turn her passion into a business, and The Juice Joint opened on the Wilmington Riverfront in July 2020.
The pandemic and the shift to remote work affected the business. Surrounding offices remained largely empty, and foot traffic fell below projections. Wilson closed the loca-tion in late 2022.
At first, she viewed the closing as a failure. Then she realized the experience was a lesson, not a loss, and she wasn’t ready to give up.
After operating at Chancery Market and changing the name to reflect a new start, The Juice Joint 2.0 moved to Union Street in November 2023. An opportunity at The Nest, a group of dining options surrounding the central area of UD’s Morris Library, followed.
By then, she had enough business experience to recognize that operating two locations didn’t make financial sense. She closed the Wilmington site in favor of the Newark location, which offers steady foot traffic and wellness-minded customers.
The menu includes cold-pressed juices, enhanced waters and lemonades, sea moss-infused blends, herbal teas, smoothies and açaí bowls.
Wilson’s commitment to mentoring extends beyond her business. She founded Delaware Urban Greens in honor of her father, Frederick N. Wilson, who died from COVID in April 2020. Known as the “unofficial mayor” of his Harlem neighborhood, he improved parks, installed urban gardens, wrote grants and helped prepare residents for employment.
Through Delaware Urban Greens, she continues her father’s legacy of community service. The nonprofit operates a community refrigerator inside the Walnut Street YMCA, and Wilson delights in hearing children eagerly ask whether pears or apples are available. Their interest in fresh fruit excites her.
Healthy habits are taking root, she says.
Her work outside the business reflects the same commitment to service. She also runs POUR — formerly Nourish & Nature — through Delaware Urban Greens in partnership with the Wilmington Learning Collaborative. Offered in nine Wilmington schools, the program gives educators an opportunity to focus on their own well-being. During the 2025–26 school year, POUR provided wellness retreats for more than 1,000 educators and staff members.
The name reflects Wilson’s belief that people who pour into others also need someone to pour into them. It is an extension of the familiar expression: You can’t pour from an empty cup. People must care for their own physical and emotional needs before they can effectively care for others.
Her work centers on helping people refill that cup — through a healthy smoothie, a refrigerator stocked with whole foods or a few quiet moments during the school day. Each opportunity allows her to teach, coach and nourish.
“I love it,” she says. “I love it so much.”
—Pam George
Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest magazine articles.
Lanice Wilson earned a master’s degree in Education from Wilmington University, but her goal wasn’t to work in a traditional classroom. “I have this affinity for mentorship,” she says. “I have this affinity for coaching.”
That instinct has shaped nearly every facet of her career. At The Juice Joint 2.0 — her business in The Nest at the University of Delaware’s Morris Library — Wilson uses conversations at the counter to explain the benefits of whole-food ingredients and healthy eating.
Through POUR, a Delaware Urban Greens program she developed in collaboration with the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, Wilson brings nourishing food, mindfulness activities and wellness breaks to educators in Wilmington schools.
For Wilson, chance encounters offered opportunities to teach. Once, when two women asked for free cups at The Juice Joint 2.0, she explained diplomatically that even small supplies carry a cost for independent businesses — before handing them the cups.
Her instinct to guide others developed long before she became an entrepreneur. Born and raised in the Bronx, she moved to Delaware more than two decades ago with an associate degree, ambition and a determination to continue her education.
Wilson knew a bachelor’s degree would help her advance in corporate marketing. As a working single parent, she needed a program that fit her schedule, and WilmU’s night, weekend and accelerated courses gave her the flexibility to continue her education.
At WilmU, she found the support she needed to succeed.
“If I didn’t understand something, I wasn’t afraid to ask questions,” she says. “I always felt like that was encouraged.”
After earning a bachelor’s in General Studies, she returned to pursue graduate work.
Her interest in juicing began while visiting her daughter in California. Back in Delaware, she began making juices for friends and family. She decided to turn her passion into a business, and The Juice Joint opened on the Wilmington Riverfront in July 2020.
The pandemic and the shift to remote work affected the business. Surrounding offices remained largely empty, and foot traffic fell below projections. Wilson closed the loca-tion in late 2022.
At first, she viewed the closing as a failure. Then she realized the experience was a lesson, not a loss, and she wasn’t ready to give up.
After operating at Chancery Market and changing the name to reflect a new start, The Juice Joint 2.0 moved to Union Street in November 2023. An opportunity at The Nest, a group of dining options surrounding the central area of UD’s Morris Library, followed.
By then, she had enough business experience to recognize that operating two locations didn’t make financial sense. She closed the Wilmington site in favor of the Newark location, which offers steady foot traffic and wellness-minded customers.
The menu includes cold-pressed juices, enhanced waters and lemonades, sea moss-infused blends, herbal teas, smoothies and açaí bowls.
Wilson’s commitment to mentoring extends beyond her business. She founded Delaware Urban Greens in honor of her father, Frederick N. Wilson, who died from COVID in April 2020. Known as the “unofficial mayor” of his Harlem neighborhood, he improved parks, installed urban gardens, wrote grants and helped prepare residents for employment.
Through Delaware Urban Greens, she continues her father’s legacy of community service. The nonprofit operates a community refrigerator inside the Walnut Street YMCA, and Wilson delights in hearing children eagerly ask whether pears or apples are available. Their interest in fresh fruit excites her.
Healthy habits are taking root, she says.
Her work outside the business reflects the same commitment to service. She also runs POUR — formerly Nourish & Nature — through Delaware Urban Greens in partnership with the Wilmington Learning Collaborative. Offered in nine Wilmington schools, the program gives educators an opportunity to focus on their own well-being. During the 2025–26 school year, POUR provided wellness retreats for more than 1,000 educators and staff members.
The name reflects Wilson’s belief that people who pour into others also need someone to pour into them. It is an extension of the familiar expression: You can’t pour from an empty cup. People must care for their own physical and emotional needs before they can effectively care for others.
Her work centers on helping people refill that cup — through a healthy smoothie, a refrigerator stocked with whole foods or a few quiet moments during the school day. Each opportunity allows her to teach, coach and nourish.
“I love it,” she says. “I love it so much.”
—Pam George
Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest magazine articles.
