Audre Lorde Co-op is a 15 room household which provides a safe space for people of all ages committed to advocating a sustainable and socially just society. We are an actively racial justice, pro-People-of-Color, pro-Feminist, and pro-Queer/LGBT-loving household. Our intent is to bring together individuals in an environment that fosters and is supportive of their activist endeavors as well as creating a safe place for living. House decisions are made by group modified consensus. Community meals are vegetarian with a vegan option. We are located near Phoenix, Lothlorien, Ambrosia, Nottingham and Rivendell Co-ops.

House members contribute roughly 5-6 hours of their time each week for workjobs such as cooking, washing dishes, cleaning various common spaces, paying bills, grocery shopping, serving as a house representative for the Board and various committees of Madison Community Cooperative, and many other jobs that go towards the upkeep and continuance of the household.

Everyone in the house pays $95 a month to purchase bulk food which is mostly organic, and locally-grown when possible; we strive to buy from vendors that are owned and run by people-of-color and/or women. A vegan or vegetarian meal is cooked every night of the week around 7pm; except on Saturdays.

We have house meetings every other Sunday night which can last anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours. These meetings are a chance for us to communicate with one another about any issues, problems, plans or changes, as a group, in a forum that insures everyone an equal chance to be heard.

Contact the Audre Lorde residence at (608) 259-1976 or audrelordecoop@gmail.com.

The membershipping process involves the attendance of three house dinners (we eat at 7pm every day except Saturdays) and the completion of a membership meeting which we try and schedule to coincide with your third dinner. The membership meeting gives house members and prospective house members an opportunity to ask questions of one another and allows the house to ensure that all incoming members are open-minded, thoughtful, and respectful of all people, cultures, and ideas.

To those membershipping from outside of Madison: If it will be difficult or expensive for you to attend 3 dinners you can write a detailed letter about yourself and why you are interested in living with us to take the place of the first 2 dinners. Upon your arrival in Madison you can come for your third dinner and we can schedule your membership meeting!

Want to become a food co-oper?

If you are looking for an affordable way to eat well and be part of the community, you can membership to become a food co-oper! For $95 a month you can purchase a share of the food we buy as a house and partake in our tasty dinners! Food co-opers have 24-hour access to the houses food supply, and will be expected to contribute 2 hours of cooking or dish-washing each week.

Membership meetings

As mentioned above, we are an actively racial justice, pro-People-of-Color, pro-Feminist, and pro-Queer/LGBT-loving household. These are our house values and we are seeking new members who share in our desire to create and perpetuate this type of environment. Please come to your meeting prepared to demonstrate thoughtful consideration of these values as well as why you are interested in cooperative living.

"Without Community There Is No Liberation"

If you have any questions please call the co-op at (608) 259-1976 or email us at audrelordecoop@gmail.com