ABSTRACT
The structural and political shifts that have occurred under neoliberalism penalize poor people for being poor, motor educational and economic inequality, and justify increased carceral and quasi-carceral control for individuals who cannot contribute to the market. The prison system is only one relatively small slice of vast carceral network that facilitates and maintains social and economic inequality. While the carceral system ensnares youth at bottom of the social order, for those who manage to find work, this usually amounts to low-level service sector employment. Many struggles for social justice in the US fight for cultural and economic inclusion for segments of the population excluded from participation in the racetrack of neoliberal consumer capitalism. The ability of young people to connect their personal problems to social issues is a crucial part of inspiring personal transformation for many of the organizations. For young people, maintaining the idea of the intersectionality of expendability may allow for production of more creative and inclusive approaches.
