As we are sheltering at home this April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), our founders Amy Ferber and Ali Ferber Peters hope to bring attention to all of the women who are stuck at home in unsafe circumstances. One in five women in the U.S. is raped during her lifetime.

While in self-isolation, Ali and her daughters, Emilia, 18, and Zoe, 16, are using their Silverlake home in Los Angeles as a canvas to make a bold statement. They’re painting a mural that depicts five inspiring women wearing surgical masks featuring lines from 22-year-old Camille Rainville’s poem, “Be a Lady They Said.” The women were moved by Cynthia Nixon’s powerful video of the poem, for Girls Girls Girls magazine—which explores the meaning of the term “be a lady,” paired with provocative pop culture images—which became a viral sensation, becoming a rallying call for women everywhere.

The Mural will celebrate the positive influences of five, iconic, groundbreaking women: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lupita Nyong’o, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gretta Thunberg and Oprah Winfrey

“Even though we are home quarantined behind closed doors, we still want our voices to be heard. We live on the Silverlake Reservoir walking path, which makes our home very visible. We are using it to tell our story,” shares Ali. Adds Amy, “So far the response has been very inspiring, with people stopping to ask how they can help. We hope you'll take the #BeALadyChallenge during SAAM.”

We challenge you to share the messages that have tried to shut you down. Post a selfie with your message scrawled on tape, across your face mask (choose a line from Rainville’s poem, or write your own). We’ll select one entrant per day and send a free Birdie alarm. Unleash your voice and join us in creating a world where women are safe!

How to enter #BeALadyChallenge:

1. Post a selfie to your story with a “Be a Lady They Said” mask-message.
2. Nominate 2 friends
3. Tag and Follow @shes_birdie

Follow our Instagram and Facebook for progress on the mural and posts of our flock in their masks.

About She’s Birdie:  We created She’s Birdie, a modern, personal safety alarm, to empower women in their everyday lives. This handheld tool can activate a loud siren and flashing light to help deter an attack. Together, we are creating a new trajectory for women. With every alarm purchased, She’s Birdie gives 5% of profits to our partner organizations that passionately support women’s safety, shelter and health. Join us in creating change for our daughters, our sisters and our community and #ChirpLoudly.