Why not start a Blog? there are websites you can do this Free, do a search

Thanks but I don't think you fully understand what I'm trying to do.

Let me try to explain again.

I just feel, as a regular member of the English
speaking group of my church, that the Portuguese and English speaking groups can get
to know each other better. Each group has a variety of skills and
resources to offer the other. But for this to really happen maybe a
place online could do the trick. Maybe there needs to be a place online
where individual members can go and talk to each other. For instance,
what if someone from the English group was looking for a babysitter, and
wanted to see whether someone from the Portuguese group could offer the
service (or knew someone who could)? How could they conveniently
inquire about this online? Alternatively, what if someone from the
Portuguese group wanted to get legal advice on something and wanted to
ask a lawyer from the English group?

Do you see what I'm getting at? Basically, I'm looking for some kind of
online thing that will allow individual members of the Portuguese and
English speaking groups to talk to each other without the rest of the
world listening in.


Again, any feedback will be highly appreciated!


Thanks.

Could your Church be on Facebook. There anyone can post questions or private message each other.

Jane

Could make a private forum... free to start then later if its actually used switch to paid version if need the additional features. Something like https://proboards.com/ where you can have a private password protected forum - which will keep out the honest people but not the crooks.

You think people will be inclined to cross the cultural barrier by anonymously asking personal questions or making inquiries on personal or home matters to people they don't know?

Cultural groups like the Portuguese and others, especially with recent immigrants with limited English ability, tend to be very closely knit between friends and family and also tend to prefer an inward focus. I'd be surprised if you'd dent the outer wall with the approach you're thinking of. Good luck in any event.

SnidelyWhiplash,

The cultural barrier isn't as strong as you may think. We already have a number of events we do together each year. The people I've interacted with, from the Portuguese group, not only speak English well but are friendly, easy-going and seem open-minded to new things.

mikie_gw,

Thanks for your suggestion. But I had in mind something more personal and fun but closed off to the general public (for privacy). Something whereby someone can even post a photo, if he/she wanted to. There has to be something out there. My problem is that I'm not computer savvy.

jane_ny,

I'm not on Facebook. Is it private? I tend to think of it as very public but I could be wrong. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for the tip, nevertheless.

You can set up private groups on Facebook.

After a bit of researching on Facebook private groups, this came to my attention:

============================================

Keep in mind when you join a group:

• People may see when you join a public or closed group or that you're a member of that group, like in News Feed or search.
• When someone adds you to a public or closed group,
  others may see that you've been invited (ex: in News Feed or search).
  Once you visit a group you're invited to, you'll become a member and
  other people may see you joined.

https://www.facebook.com/help/162866443847527/

==============================================

Ideally, I'm looking for something that offers more privacy (if it exists).

Before worrying about issues related to computer set up/skills, website, blog, forum, cultural barriers, privacy, how about going back to basic - What language will they use to communicate among the two groups in cyber space?

It is so much easier communicate in person than through online, since face expressions, body languages...etc. could add a lot more efficiency.

If they are proficient in both English and Portuguese, why your church has separate services in two different languages to begin with?