As a member of the board, I would like to set up a community portal where we can raise issues, ask questions, or just talk with other residents. I have done some research, and below are some of the best I found. But of course, if someone has other ideas, I am happy to discuss them.
Some of these services have a bit of a learning curve, so I would also like to create videos that teach everyone how to use them. I do this for work all the time, and you can see one of the examples here. (Disclosure: I did not edit that video, but I did write the script and record them, and I do have a lot of editing experience, having edited together the video for my grandparents' 70th anniversary.)
Website: https://discord.com/
In Discord, you can sign up for a "server" that everyone can join from an invitation. On that server, there are several "channels", which are a bit like chatrooms, each one devoted to a specific purpose (e.g. "news", "complaints", etc) to chat about different subjects. Members on the same server can also send each other direct messages. If you are familiar with Slack, it is similar to that.
One of the best parts of Discord are the customiztions available. You can set up polls (which can be great for making major decisions as a community), reminders, and more.
This one is my personal favorites, since there are so many features available that can fit even the most niche of needs, and everything can be organized into categories. However, it also has the largest learning curve. I am happy to create videos to teach everyone how to use it.
Website: https://discourse.org/
This is a service where you can create your own private message boards. You can post new topics and polls, and other residents can respond to them.
The advantage of this service is that it is the most like a traditional message board, so it will be more familiar to everyone than Discord with less of a learning curve. The disadvantages are that that there are not as many features as Discord, and it has a fee of around $50 per month.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/help/1629740080681586
We could go the simple route, and simply create a Facebook group. Residents can post news, questions, and even polls.
Most people are already on Facebook, so it should not be too much of a transition to create a Facebook group. While Discord is my personal favorite, a Facebook group is probably the best and most accessible option.
We can set up a service where a resident sends an email to one email address, and it is then sent to all residents. It can be set up so only residents can email that email address, and no one knows the actual email address the message came from, securing privacy.
This is the easiest option, but it also has the fewest features. It could also lead to a massive influx of emails, and we already get so many emails in the modern age.