BuddyPress.org

1) Avatars – users can upload their own avatar. Please check out testbp.org for a demo of BP.

2) Use the BP Template Pack plugin – https://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/bp-template-pack/

Be sure to go through all the steps in the plugin.

3) Go to testbp.org and try the group forums yourself. If you want a traditional forum script, use bbPress, vBulletin, phpBB, etc. BP is not a forum script – it’s social networking in a box!