Maxine Lucero was born on November 20, 1968, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at Holy Cross Hospital. She identifies as Mexican American and Native American, though she often describes her race as simply part of the "human race". She is fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Her family’s migration history is rooted in the "Manito" region; her mother, Consuelo Fabiola Delgado, was born in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico, and her father, Elifas Eli Lucero, was born in Mogote, Colorado. Her parents moved to Utah following the path of migrant farmworkers to find labor, although her father eventually secured a long-term career with the United States Postal Service. Maxine grew up in a household deeply involved in community advocacy; her mother was a teacher and counselor who participated in the Chicano Movement and worked with the community organization SOCIO.

Maxine’s education took place entirely within Salt Lake City’s West Side, attending Jackson Elementary, Newman Elementary, and Jordan Junior High. While she did not pursue a traditional university degree immediately after high school, she later earned a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential through a program at the University of Utah while working for the Granite School District. She also completed the West Side Leadership program to strengthen her skills as a community advocate.

Her work experience reflects a life dedicated to supporting her family and her community. As a single mother of three daughters, she held various jobs in cashiering and reception before finding a professional path in education and human resources. She worked for the Even Start Program, a teen mother initiative where she managed a preschool, and later served as an executive assistant at Western Nut. For the past several years, she has worked in Human Resources and staffing. Beyond her professional roles, her true passion is West Side Dance, a folklorico group she founded in 1997 to teach neighborhood children about their heritage through dance—a tradition she began herself at age four. Known for "getting shit done," Maxine continues to advocate for West Side youth, encouraging them to stand up against unfair treatment and ensure their voices are heard.