Wildrock: Empowering Social Connection and Play in Virginia's Blue Ridge Region Feb 01, 2024 By Bala Mulloth Wildrock: Empowering Social Connection and Play in Virginia's Blue Ridge Region In this case, we study the growth, evolution, and impact of Wildrock, a nonprofit organization that is helping improve the mental health and happiness of people in and around Charlottesville, Virginia, through access to nature and nature play. Wildrock was created by Carolyn Schuyler, a licensed clinical social worker, in response to increasing mental illness among young adults and a decrease in outdoor play among children. Wildrock’s mission is to promote nature play for health and happiness. They achieve this mission primarily through their outdoor playscape in the Blue Ridge foothills of central Virginia and pop-up play installations in underused urban green spaces. By making space for nature play and reinvigorating positive mental health practices, Wildrock has set itself apart as a viable model for how entrepreneurs may drive grassroots movements by developing innovative solutions to societal challenges. In addition to investigating the Wildrock social impact and business model, students will assess the various strategic decisions and challenges Wildrock faces as they seek to maximize impact in the years ahead. Students will analyze Wildrock’s tradeoffs between expanding to serve additional constituents and focusing efforts on securing financial stability in their current state. Link to case Bala Mulloth Bala Mulloth is an assistant professor at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Mulloth is a globally oriented educator and entrepreneur and his work focuses on innovation and social entrepreneurship. Read full bio Related Content Bala Mulloth Embedding responsible innovation in corporate strategy Research International Institute for Management Development (IMD) features an article by Bala Mulloth, Jill Kickul, and Tatiana Iakovleva in Sustainability, Sept. 2024. Mulloth and collagues explore the advantages of applying the responsible innovation (RI) framework beyond its origins in the social enterprise sphere. Rebecca’s Natural Food: Sparking Small Business and Local Community Involvement in Charlottesville Research This case study analyzes the growth, evolution, and innovation of Rebecca’s Natural Food, a socially minded grocer that provides locally sourced, sustainable, and healthy products for the public. Founded in 1987 by Norman Dill, the organization’s mission was to orchestrate a movement championing the need for healthy, sustainable, anti-hormone, fresh local food. Professor Bala Mulloth and Team Close to Marketing Better-Filtering, More Comfortable Cloth Face Masks News Gaurav Giri and Batten assistant professor of public policy Balashankar Mulloth co-founded Hava, Inc. to develop technology with the potential to dramatically improve the air filtration efficiency and breathability of face masks. Designers and researchers join forces to imagine the home of the future News Batten’s Bala Mulloth and chemical engineering professor Gaurav Giri, co-founders of Hava Inc., are one of nine design teams commissioned to provide the public with a glimpse into the future of home furnishings and objects for a show titled Hybrid at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia.
Bala Mulloth Bala Mulloth is an assistant professor at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Mulloth is a globally oriented educator and entrepreneur and his work focuses on innovation and social entrepreneurship. Read full bio
Embedding responsible innovation in corporate strategy Research International Institute for Management Development (IMD) features an article by Bala Mulloth, Jill Kickul, and Tatiana Iakovleva in Sustainability, Sept. 2024. Mulloth and collagues explore the advantages of applying the responsible innovation (RI) framework beyond its origins in the social enterprise sphere.
Rebecca’s Natural Food: Sparking Small Business and Local Community Involvement in Charlottesville Research This case study analyzes the growth, evolution, and innovation of Rebecca’s Natural Food, a socially minded grocer that provides locally sourced, sustainable, and healthy products for the public. Founded in 1987 by Norman Dill, the organization’s mission was to orchestrate a movement championing the need for healthy, sustainable, anti-hormone, fresh local food.
Professor Bala Mulloth and Team Close to Marketing Better-Filtering, More Comfortable Cloth Face Masks News Gaurav Giri and Batten assistant professor of public policy Balashankar Mulloth co-founded Hava, Inc. to develop technology with the potential to dramatically improve the air filtration efficiency and breathability of face masks.
Designers and researchers join forces to imagine the home of the future News Batten’s Bala Mulloth and chemical engineering professor Gaurav Giri, co-founders of Hava Inc., are one of nine design teams commissioned to provide the public with a glimpse into the future of home furnishings and objects for a show titled Hybrid at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia.