Another Benicia Story of Endeavor
By Sheri Leigh, March 19, 2026
For a 19 year old, Quinn Berg has an impressive list of goals. He has aspirations for teaching so he can help others achieve. He loves music and hopes to be a DJ. He has dreams of becoming a flight attendant or being part of the medical care world. His current achievable goal is to help run a restaurant/coffee shop. In the meantime, he volunteers at the library, where and cleans the computers. Like any ordinary youth, he wants to continue with school, get a driver’s license, and to eventually get married, and have a rich and independent life. In every way but one, Quinn is a typical teenager on the verge of adulthood. The thing that sets Quinn apart from the others is that he lives with Down syndrome, a genetic condition caused by an extra chromosome, leading to developmental delays. Despite this challenge, Quinn is determined to live a full and meaningful life.
Quinn is a Benicia lifetime resident. He lives with his mother, two younger brothers, and his labrador retriever in a converted apartment in the arsenal. When his father passed away in 2019, Quinn took on the responsibility of helping his mother with the care of the household.
His former teacher, coach and current independent living specialist, Joe Farrell, has watched this remarkable young man come into his own. They met when Quinn was in 5th grade at Robert Semple. Joe was his classroom teacher. Quinn was paired with a neurotypical friend and partner to help him navigate the complex world of an integrated classroom. Later, when Quinn joined the track and field team in middle school and high school, Joe was his coach. Quinn was extremely successful on the integrated team, and eventually placed in the CIF State Finals for shot put and the 4×100 relay. Quinn graduated from Benicia High School in 2025,and Joe transitioned from public school teaching to specializing in adult independent living. Once again, Quinn and Joe are working together while Quinn attends the Benicia Adult program. Quinn is hoping to attend the UC Davis Redwood SEED program, which is an inclusive college program for young people with neurodevelopmental disabilities. If Quinn is accepted to this program, he will move to Davis, take part in rigorous coursework, and live in the dorms. Joe is helping him to get there.
In the meantime, with Joe’s guidance, Quinn is heavily involved in the establishment and promotion of the Tyler Street Collective. Named after his neighborhood, and as a tribute to his late father, The Collective is a group of neurologically atypical young men who make applesauce from handpicked fruit from an organic Gravenstein apple farm in Sonoma. After Quinn and the others earned their Food Handlers’ License, the group picked, cored, peeled, boiled, crushed and jarred the fruit, resulting in an outstanding organic applesauce product. They’ve sold many jars and look forward to selling more. And applesauce isn’t all. Quinn and the Tyler Street Collective are in the process of seeking a site to open a restaurant in Benicia. And Quinn is the heart and soul of this endeavor. His enthusiasm is infectious as Quinn describes some of the planned menu options. Beyond applesauce, they hope to offer porkchops, pizza, coffee and more.
When asked what motivates him, Quinn responds with this statement: “I want to spread happiness everywhere. And I want people with Down syndrome to have a good and productive life with the same rights as everyone. Let’s share and pass on the love!”
If you would like to meet this remarkable young man and his Tyler Street Collective partners, Quinn and his friends will be featured at an event at Drift on Friday afternoon, March 27 and they will have a booth at the City (Gazebo) Park for Fiestas Primavera on Saturday, March 28 from noon to 5pm. When you find them, you can chat, and/or taste and purchase their amazing applesauce. And you will always be welcomed with a warm smile and open arms.
See previous story on the Benicia Independent:
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