David Downes has worked at all levels of education during his career, beginning with graduate level research in counseling and instruction at a community college, to counseling and remediation work in K-12 systems, and culminating in adult and continuing education administration in Connecticut for the past eleven years. Along the way he has garnered state awards both for development of a statewide school counseling curriculum and also for his legislative advocacy leadership [in adult education] on behalf of the Connecticut Association for Adult and Continuing Education (CAACE) . On a local level he was awarded the “Build No Fences” community award for the many ways that the West Hartford, CT adult education program has partnered with family resource services, libraries, religious organizations, workplace educators, and the chamber of commerce.