You can create a base class with your common atributes from which other classes inherits.
Sample code:
<code>Public Class BaseClass
Private _name As String
Public Property Name() As String
Get
Return _name
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
_name = value
End Set
End Property
Sub New()
End Sub
End Class
Public Class People
Inherits BaseClass
Sub New()
End Sub
End Class</code>