The Heinz Endowments has awarded a $50,000 grant start a Multicultural Lisason Unit for Pittsburgh. Many of the people in Pittsburgh's growing immigrant community fear uniformed officers, particularly police, after experiencing oppression from authorities in their home countries. The Multicultural Liaison Unit will work to help immigrants understand city public safety services. They will use videos with subtitles and pamphlets outlining such things as police protocol and how people who can't speak English should report a crime or request an ambulance. Plans include such things as community meetings in which immigrants can meet public safety personnel, cultural training for first responders, and a Refugee Public Safety Academy, similar to Pittsburgh's Public Safety Academy. The Multicultural Liaison Unit stems from a series of bills sponsored earlier this year by City Councilman Dan Gilman and approved by council designed to help immigrants navigate city services.