Electric Moon has a guiding light

Van Nuys man's foundation helps kids at Inglewood shelter find artistic outlet

By Marianne Love CORRESPONDENT

No one in Rashad Neal's family plays an instrument, despite loving many genres of music. But that didn't stop the 10-year­old from pickingupaguitar while living in an Inglewood shelter following the death of his father last year.

Because of that tragedy, his family participated in the shel­ter's HomeLight Family Living, a program of l','[.idnight l',1.ission that provides housing and support services for homeless families, helping them to rebuild their lives. The program offers art and music for the children,run by Van Nuys resident Brent Nuffer, executive director of the Electric Moon Foundation.

Over the past year and a halt Rashad not only learned to strum the guitar while living at the Inglewood shelter, he also picked up the trumpet at his elementary school.

"I love the guitar, Iloveplaying it

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the drums. I'm very grateful for the program and thankful for Brent, too. (The program) has made me happier:•

Nuffer founded the nonprofit Electric Moon Foundation in 2023, focusing mostly on children in shel­ters, guiding them to express themselves through music and art

"I had a rough upbringing as a kid," growing up in Michi­gan, Nuffer said, a songwriter and singer in a Pearl Jam cover band. "I was confused at the time, and I was feeling kind of abandoned, and I was very, verymuch bulliedandl waskindoflookingforaplace where I fit in and where I had a voice. And I found music and rock 'n' roll and art, and I instantly felt I was home, where I was safe and it gave me refuge, and it felt like a family within the bands. I just felt seen and heard for the first time."

Today, Nuffer receives financial grants from vari­ous funders, including the Seattle-based rock band Pearl Jam, enabling him to donate musical instru­ments, including guitars, to sheltered children. Nuffer is currently working with 10 children at the Inglewood shelter. He also works with other organizations, including the nonprofit Alexandria House in Los Angeles, a transitional home that provides safe and supportive housing for women and children experi­encing homelessness.

Rashad, his mom, and his 18-year-old sister reached that goal a few weeks ago and moved into an independent living space again.

"Rashad's dad was killed about a year ago and the family became homeless as a result,'' said Ricardo Rosales, director of the Ingle­wood-based HomeLight Family Living program. "I've always told people we're not in the homeless business; we're in the self-esteem busi­ness!'

Rosales agrees music helps children with their emotional well-being, giving them an outlet to express their feel­ings. "I've seen where it's also helping them build their social skills:' he added about Nuffer's work with the orga­nization's sheltered children.

Naika Neal, Rashad's mother, said he was always interested in playing an instrument and he has changed since hooking up with Nuffer and other musi­cal children at the shelter.

"He is more studious now;' Naika Neal said. "He enjoys going to the instruc­tion classes. He really, really enjoys it very much. He's always geared to go. Brent has beensuchablessingtous.He has been so nice and kind!'

A group effort is under­way by Nuffer and the chil­dren to writeasongcalled the "Wild Zone" about a female elephant who lives on a planet full of war, destruction and pollution. The elephant and a friend travel to a health­ier planet to find seeds to plant on their destroyed planet with hopes of restor­ing it

"It'saslowsong lik:eyou're telling a story" said Rashad, a story about friends who support and help each other.

For more infonnation about Electric Moon, visit electricmoonfoundation.org.