Gilbert was born and raised in Hawai’i within a family of Filipinos, Puerto Ricans, Native Hawaiians, and other groups. He studied child psychology at the University of Minnesota, where he began nurturing his commitment to centering the experiences of diverse communities, particularly Asians/Pacific Islanders, Latinos, and LGBTQ people. Gilbert is an avid learner, passionate exerciser, and nature enthusiast. He is a Manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s Center for Prevention. Prior to Blue Cross he held staff and board member roles in national and local nonprofits, in the areas of health advocacy and youth programming.