Eva Gladstein serves as Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity for the City of Philadelphia. The focus of agency, recently formed by Mayor Michael Nutter, is to align the City’s efforts to lift individuals and communities out of poverty and increase opportunities for low income individuals and families. Gladstein previously served as Deputy Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and recently completed a three-year assignment as Executive Director of the 31-member Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission, successfully reforming and modernizing Philadelphia’s 50-year old zoning code. She also served as the Director of Neighborhood Transformation for former Mayor John F. Street, coordinating a multifaceted strategy designed to renew and strengthen entire communities. Prior to being appointed to this position, Gladstein served as the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone under Mayors Street and Rendell for close to seven years. She began her career in the mid-1970s, co-founding and directing several non-profit organizations. She lives in Philadelphia and has been active on the Boards of a variety of civic associations.