Aleeyah Sanders’ journey into real estate and community development began long before she ever purchased her first property—it was planted in her childhood and nurtured by a family legacy deeply rooted in building, ownership, and generational advancement.

Growing up in California, Aleeyah was surrounded by powerful examples of what visionary leadership in real estate looked like. Her aunt—a pioneering real estate developer and broker—built subdivisions in Stockton, California, while her uncles constructed the homes she designed. Her mother was also a real estate investor, reinforcing an early belief that ownership was not only attainable but transformative. These family influences shaped Aleeyah’s understanding of real estate as both a business and a tool for empowerment, long before she knew how these lessons would shape her future.

By the time she arrived at Tuskegee University, Aleeyah carried with her a rare combination of generational knowledge, ambition, and purpose. As a Construction Science and Management major, she quickly recognized a profound need within the community: the city lacked quality housing and an ecosystem of contractors capable of meeting the demand.

Rather than wait for change, she decided to build it.

Using refund checks she had saved from scholarships, grants, student loans, and side hustles—along with support from her family—Aleeyah purchased her first home in Tuskegee in 2016 while still a college student. With few reliable contractors in the area, she put her construction background to work. In a groundbreaking model of student engagement and community empowerment, she invited campus organizations to help renovate the property, teaching students carpentry and construction skills in exchange for community service hours.

This hands-on, impact-driven approach became a defining trait of her work.

As her involvement in the community grew, she met Jazlyn Fuller, a local marketer and videographer. Together, they co-founded Let’s Rebuild Tuskegee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing Tuskegee through housing, education, and collective action. Their mission: empower residents, alumni, and students to invest in and rebuild one of the most historically significant Black communities in America.

Aleeyah didn’t stop there.
During her senior year, she purchased a condo in Houston, Texas, flying back and forth on weekends to oversee the renovation—further sharpening her development and project management skills. She also invested in multiple tax-delinquent properties in Tuskegee, transforming them into housing opportunities while teaching other students how to invest in real estate before graduation. Many of the student investors she mentored went on to purchase homes in Tuskegee and contribute to the city’s revitalization.

In her junior year of college, her grandmother passed down 10 acres of family land in Arkansas, land held by her family since the end of slavery. This inheritance deepened her sense of duty and connected her work to a powerful legacy of Black land ownership.

After graduation, Aleeyah worked for several general contracting firms while continuing to grow her own real estate enterprises. Her commitment and discipline paid off:

• She became a Real Estate Developer at age 27

• She earned her Commercial General Contractor’s License at age 30

• She launched Dream Build Development, a GC and development firm, to complement the nonprofit and housing initiatives she leads

Today, Aleeyah stands at the forefront of a new movement—one that merges social impact, community revitalization, student empowerment, and innovative real estate development. Through Let’s Rebuild Tuskegee, she is leading transformative projects including faculty and workforce housing, student shared-equity townhomes, and community development initiatives that honor Tuskegee’s legacy while preparing it for the future.

Her work has already attracted the attention of donors, alumni, entrepreneurs, and private equity partners who share her vision. With deep community roots, cross-sector expertise, and a mission-driven approach, Aleeyah Sanders is redefining what it means to build—and rebuild—Black communities with intention, innovation, and generational purpose.

Her story is proof that when legacy, leadership, and vision align, entire communities can be transformed.