Ariel Gilbert

Ariel Gilbert is a social justice warrior eager to revolutionize our legal system and end mass incarceration. She and her identical twin sister are no strangers to how institutions target marginalized individuals. Ariel is a first-generation, low-income, queer woman of color who spent years in the foster care system because of her parents’ struggle with substance abuse. Both her mom and dad are formerly incarcerated. Through her nonprofit work and studies at Columbia University, Ariel passionately goes back to challenge the same legal system that targets people like her and her family members. Systemic change may be slow but she’s not slowing down until all of Uncle Sam’s forgotten children are free.