Derrick Walker Jr. - Turning a Car Show Into Nearly $60,000 in Scholarships

On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with Derrick Walker Jr., founder of Rides N' School Supplies, the North St. Louis organization that's turned a single car show into scholarships, school supplies, and mentorship for kids across the city since 2019. Derrick was born and raised on a North St. Louis block he still lives on today, alongside eight other family members — including his 97-year-old grandmother. His path to Rides N' School Supplies started while mentoring teenage boys through the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis inside the Juvenile Detention Center. After a year of one-hour weekly sessions, he realized the bigger opportunity wasn't helping kids after they'd already ended up there — it was keeping them out in the first place. So he and his cousin, both Dodge Charger owners at the time, turned their shared love of cars into a car show built around scholarships and community resources. Nine years later, the organization is a family affair: his wife serves as treasurer, his mom and dad are involved day to day, and his son's godfather runs creative strategy. Derrick shares the story of Stefan Riggins, a scholarship recipient now studying at Harris-Stowe, and opens up about the organization's most personal project: restoring a donated 1979 Corvette in memory of his late cousin Morris, known at the O'Fallon Park rec center as "Mo Fallon," who passed away playing basketball in 2019. They talk about a dream Harris-Stowe full-ride partnership, nearly $60,000 in scholarships given out so far, and what it means when parents pull Derrick aside in tears. It's a conversation about using cars to open doors, family showing up for family, and building something in St. Louis that outlasts any one car show. They discuss:  • Building Rides N' School Supplies from a single car show in 2019  • Mentoring teens at the Juvenile Detention Center through 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis  • Realizing prevention could matter more than intervention  • Growing up on the same North St. Louis block as eight family members, including his 97-year-old grandmother  • Running the organization as a family — wife, mom, dad, and cousins all on the team • Using cars as a hook to introduce kids to bigger life lessons • Watching community members show up for the kids even in the rain  • Following Stefan Riggins's journey from scholarship recipient to Harris-Stowe student and fraternity brother  • Teaching real-world skills through the Automotive Symposium, from oil changes to electric vehicles  • Restoring a 1979 Corvette donated in memory of his late cousin, Morris "Mo Fallon"  • Partnering with Rankin Technical College to expand automotive training • Dreaming of a full-ride Harris-Stowe scholarship partnership  • Wanting to bring his Uncle Sheldon's 1968 Plymouth Road Runner back to the next show  • Trading rapid-fire picks on dream cars and favorite St. Louis sandwich spots Support the show 🎙 New episodes drop every Wednesday. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEK 🔔 🎧 LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts ▶ https://apple.co/36ycuuO Spotify ▶ https://spoti.fi/3svGoqS 🔗 CONNECT WITH STL BUCKET LIST: Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/stlbucketlist Website ▶ stlbucketlist.com 🤝 WORK WITH STL BUCKET LIST Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Email ▶ show@stlbucketlist.com Website ▶ https://www.bucketlistcreative.com 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube 📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO