Craig Rice on Food Insecurity, Leadership, and Montgomery County’s Future

Former Montgomery County Council President Craig Rice now leads Manna Food Center, one of the county’s primary organizations addressing food insecurity. In the latest episode of Moderately Mic’d, Rice discusses his shift from elected office to nonprofit leadership and what he sees as the county’s most pressing challenges.

Rice’s move from the County Council to Manna placed him at the center of a problem many residents do not associate with Montgomery County: food access. Despite the county’s reputation for affluence, 34% of residents face challenges obtaining enough food, according to figures Rice cites in the conversation.

The discussion covers how food insecurity connects to broader economic pressures (rising housing costs, childcare expenses, and transportation) that strain families across income levels. Rice describes what Manna has learned about who needs help and why traditional assumptions about poverty in Montgomery County often miss the reality.

Beyond food access, Rice reflects on what effective leadership requires in both public office and nonprofit work, particularly around building trust with communities that have reasons to be skeptical of institutions. He talks about representation, grief, resilience, and personal experiences that shaped his approach to public service.

The conversation also addresses education, specifically the role organizations outside the school system play in supporting students and families. Rice discusses how technology and artificial intelligence may change the work nonprofits do and what Montgomery County should prioritize as it continues to grow and change.

Moderately Mic’d is a community conversation series from Moderately MOCO featuring leaders, creators, advocates, and voices shaping Montgomery County and beyond.

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New episodes of Moderately Mic’d spotlight the people shaping what’s next in Montgomery County. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, watch the full episode playlist on YouTube, or see every episode on the show page.

Moderately Mic’d also airs on Montgomery Community Media (MCM) Channel 21, available on Comcast, Verizon Fios, and RCN.

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