Undergraduates Help Families Resolve Property Challenges

Seven Alabama A&M University students are turning research into real-world change through the USDA NIFA 1890 Capacity Building Grant project, “Saving the Family Property: Prevention, Resolution, and Land Use.” Administered by Alabama Extension at AAMU through the Virginia Caples Lifelong Learning Institute (VCLLI), the initiative equips students with legal and genealogical research skills while helping families resolve heirs’ property issues and protect their land for future generations.

Working in partnership with Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, AAMU students research heirs’ property cases by conducting people and property searches, building family trees, and calculating fractional ownership interests. The collaboration provides a unique experiential learning opportunity, exposing undergraduates to an issue that deeply affects rural and minority communities across Alabama – the loss of family land due to unclear title or complex inheritance disputes.

Danielle Rudolph, site director for VCLLI and principal investigator for the $350,000 project, said the initiative aims to “provide innovative customized legal services to resolve heirs’ property cases and help reduce intergenerational family disputes.” She added that the project’s impact extends beyond legal assistance: “It brings together families, communities, and universities to strengthen understanding of estate planning, land use, and generational wealth.”

During the past year, AAMU and Faulkner law students contributed more than 180 hours of pro bono work, assisting 16 families with heirs’ property cases – six of which were successfully resolved. Their research, guided by experienced faculty and legal mentors, represents a combined academic, social, and cultural investment in Alabama’s communities.

Students from multiple majors and colleges within AAMU say the experience has changed their perspectives and career goals. “I have learned so much from this experience,” said Gabriel Hannah, a freshman accounting major from Huntsville, Alabama. “My favorite thing about my job is that I am actually helping people.”

Amani Williams, a sophomore urban and regional planning major from Washington, D.C., shared a similar sentiment. “I am grateful for this experience as it has provided me an opportunity to further educate my family and community – not only on the proper procedures to protect current heirs’ property, but future investments as well.”

For Yamiri Mants, a sophomore computer science major from White Hall, Alabama, the work is both challenging and deeply rewarding. “If I only had a few words to describe my time here, there's three that come to mind immediately – engaging, exciting, and essential,” said Mants. “It’s like putting together a puzzle where each piece creates more clarity and forms a much bigger picture. No work feels wasted, and you can feel your efforts truly making an impact.”

Karter Woods, a junior urban and regional planning major from Memphis, said the project opened his eyes to an often-overlooked issue. “Before becoming a research assistant, I wasn't aware of what an heirs’ property was or the lasting impacts they can have on communities. Being given the opportunity to assist in such an endeavor has given me the chance to help my community in a unique and fulfilling way.”

Senior mechanical engineering major Angel Dixon of Montgomery, Alabama, described the experience as transformative. “Researching heirs’ property has been an eye-opening experience that revealed how historical inequities continue to affect property ownership among marginalized communities, particularly in the rural South. Through examining complex legal frameworks and hearing personal narratives from affected families, I gained a deeper understanding of the intersection between race, law, and economics that textbooks alone can't provide.”

The project will continue through March 2026, with seven new AAMU students joining this fall to support pro bono legal work through Faulkner Law and Legal Services Alabama. The next Free Estate Planning & Heirs’ Property Consultation is Tuesday, Nov. 11 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at Elmore Gymnasium. Registration is required. Register here.

For students like Kailyn Steed, a senior mechanical engineering major from Detroit, the opportunity has already left a lasting mark. “Working at Alabama Extension has helped me grow both on the job and in life. I’ve met some great people, and I feel like the work I do actually matters. Helping families figure out land ownership and keep what’s rightfully theirs means a lot to me. It feels good knowing I can make a difference in their lives and help protect their family’s history. I’m proud of what I do, and I’m thankful for the chance to do it.”

(Photo L-R) Amani Williams, Yamiri Mants, Darrell Hill, VCLLI Heirs Property Program Coordinator, Karter Woods, Angel Dixon