Mitchell Little

Mitchell Little is the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO), the City of Philadelphia’s anti-poverty agency, and has spent more than 15 years as a leader in Philadelphia’s fight against poverty. Mitch joined CEO in 2013, the year that the organisation created “Shared Prosperity Philadelphia: Our Plan to Fight Poverty,” a strategy designed to increase opportunities for impoverished individuals and communities in Philadelphia. The office acts as a convener, funder and evaluator contracting with a wide variety of grantees to advance initiatives in benefit access, housing security, learning preparedness, financial security and workforce development. Prior to joining the Mayor’s Office, Mitch spent four years as a social worker for Diversified Community Services in South Philadelphia, serving families involved in the city’s child welfare system. During his time there, he became a leader of the organisation, overseeing all youth and family service programs. Mitch has a master’s degree in public and nonprofit leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in art and architecture from the Pennsylvania State University. He serves on a number of boards of directors including YesPhilly, an alternative school for young adults who have dropped out; the Philadelphia Local Initiatives Support Corporation; and the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania. He is most proud of mentoring young professionals as a member of the African Americans in Government Mentoring Program.