In her final year of her M.A. at the University of Illinois, Maxine is focused on completing her thesis and giving back to the community she has called home for eight years.

Her thesis is on the House of Blues in Chicago, exploring the space's history and its utilization of material culture from South Asian Traditions and Outsider Art (Folk Art). As a reflection of Chicagoan identity and influenced by Isaac Tigrett's experiences as a disciple of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, HOB-C was, and is- a heterotopia-  which engages patrons, artists, and employees into an utopic experience where all are loved, unity in diversity is paramount, and help ever, hurt never, are key. Since Tigrett left in 2000, and LiveNation acquired the franchise in 2006, the vision TIgrett (and others) intended has evolved and changed.