3c hapter - Index of

Acknowledgments
Little did I realize what I was getting myself into when
I embarked upon this project. It was like diving into an endless
canyon. That is why I am so grateful to all of the people who
helped me along the way and gave so generously of their time.
They are too numerous to mention individually by name. But I
especially want to thank Dante Hesse and John Friedman (John,
I hope you get your pig); Michael Shuman, John Katovich, and
Jenny Kassan, who patiently answered my questions about securities
law; Trexler Proffi t, David Fisher, and Adam Spence; the folks
at The Reinvestment Fund, Accion, the Opportunity Finance
Network, and the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund; James
Frazier; the many bright crowdfunding and co- op entrepreneurs
I spoke with and the inspirational individuals, including Jessica
Stockton- Bagnulo, Tom Stearns, Chris Michael, and Melinda
Little, who are showing how modern- day barns are raised. I also
want to acknowledge the great debt I owe to the Business Alliance
for Local Living Economies (BALLE), Slow Money, Michael
Shuman, and Stacy Mitchell at the New Rules Foundation for the
incredible groundwork they have laid in this important area.
This book would never have come into being had it not been
for my agent, Mel Parker, who saw the seed of a book in a small
article I wrote for the New York Times Magazine amid the market
turmoil of 2008. I could not have asked for a more trusted guide
throughout this process. I also want to thank Debra Englander
and her team at John Wiley & Sons, including Emilie Herman,
Claire Wesley, Sharon Polese, and Adrianna Johnson. You have
been a pleasure to work with and extremely accommodating.
Friends and family were a lifeline. I am grateful for the friendship
and astute editorial advice of Sheri Prasso, Geoff Lewis,
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