This Center’s goal is to ensure that heirs' receive and exercise the full rights associated with property ownership. Among participants in this program, it is common for the original land holder to have verbally specified the heir who should receive the real property. Often the subsequent land holders have the misconception that paying taxes on the land, having received a verbal expression of inheritance, and having actual possession of the land equal a clear title, which is not the case. Consequently, community education is the main thrust of the Center. Staff provides information to participants about alternative ways to attain a clear property title. In addition to community education, full representation of heirs is provided by attorneys from the participating organizations as well as some private attorneys. The Center provides the following services:

• Conducts heirs' property clinics where staff can educate heirs on their rights and strategies to ensure they do not lose their land.
• Provides extended legal assistance and representation to heirs who are in the process of losing their land.
• Trains community mediators who help facilitate resolutions that would bypass auctioning off of the property.
• Creates educational materials to share with community members.

Participants of the March 2007 Community Mediation Training
From left to right: (back) Kutina Williams, Joshua Evans, Chris Lucas, Daniel Gross,
Jennie Stephens; (front) Jenise Jefferson, Myrtle Campbell, Lynn Woodridge,
Jacqueline Williams, Rose Marie Cooper, & Chad McCullen; not pictured are:
Kim Purdue and Matthew Aronson