Replace Shortcuts Block a drop-down for "Create new ...." - user selects the type of record they want to create. Move Contact Dashboard link to separate block.

Replace Shortcuts Block a drop-down for "Create new ...." - user selects the type of record they want to create. Move Contact Dashboard link to separate block.

The new "shortcuts" doesn't need a displayed title. For Drupal admin, the title can still be CiviCRM Shortcuts.
Action is triggered onchange in drop-down.
Options are:

• create new .... -
  Individual
  Organization
  Household
  --------
  Activity
  Contribution
  Event Registration
  Grant
  Membership
  Pledge
  ------
  Group
  Tag

=====================
Add Classes to Option Lists
=====================
Define an action "reference" value for each action:

new-individual
new-household
new-organization
new-activity
new-case
new-contribution
new-email
new-grant
new-membership
new-participant
new-pledge
new-group
new-tag

Reference values are passed into the array and the template writes them out as a class attribute for each <option>:
<option class="{$item.ref}">