Daniel Elkin joined HeadCount in November of 2017 as the new Team Leader in Santa Barbara. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, he drove to California in 2014 to pursue a career in environmental science and policy. He taught climate and ocean science in San Francisco for three years, while simultaneously volunteering with the Sierra Club and giving private guitar and piano lessons on the side. He is now getting his master’s in Environmental Science and Management at UC Santa Barbara, with a focus on policy and communication. A brand-new member to the Santa Barbara community, Danny is excited to promote participation and inspire interest in our political system. HeadCount allows Danny to combine his love for music with his newfound interest in politics. He finds incredible value in getting the music community, along with the students of Santa Barbara, involved in the democratic process.
Danny was raised by two music lovers and has played music his entire life. He has a background in jazz guitar and improvisation, but has since devoted himself to the art and stylings of bluegrass. The flatpicking of Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and David Grisman was simply too great for Danny to resist, and he can no longer go a day without listening to that high lonesome sound of Del McCoury. When he’s not in school studying environmental science and policy, he is on the beach with his mandolin.